City Comparison · 2026

Birmingham vs Southampton 2026

West Midlands

Birmingham

Median Salary £33,200

Cost of Living 68/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £25,100/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.9%

Unemployment 4.8%

South East England

Southampton

Median Salary £33,500

Cost of Living 72/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £24,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4%

Unemployment 4.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Birmingham

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Birmingham

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Southampton

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Birmingham

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Birmingham

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Birmingham

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Birmingham vs Southampton

Birmingham

Birmingham is the UK's second largest city undergoing significant regeneration with growing financial services and digital sectors.

Full Birmingham Guide →

Southampton

Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port with a strong maritime economy and two major universities driving the knowledge economy.

Full Southampton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Birmingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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Manchester vs Birmingham

£36,500 vs £33,200

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Manchester vs Southampton

£36,500 vs £33,500

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Birmingham vs Edinburgh

£33,200 vs £38,900

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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