City Comparison · 2026

Birmingham vs St Albans 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

St Albans

Median Salary £45,000

Cost of Living 90/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,500/mo

Real Take-Home £26,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.5%

Unemployment 2.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

St Albans

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

St Albans

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

St Albans

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

Top Salaries: Birmingham vs St Albans

Birmingham

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

Full Birmingham Guide →

St Albans

St Albans is one of the UK's most affluent towns with the highest average salaries outside London and very high living costs.

Full St Albans Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Birmingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in St Albans

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£36,500 vs £33,200

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Manchester vs St Albans

£36,500 vs £45,000

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Birmingham vs Edinburgh

£33,200 vs £38,900

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Birmingham vs Bristol

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