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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%
VS
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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Jobs in Southampton

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