City Comparison · 2026

Birmingham vs Sunderland 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%

North East England

Sunderland

Median Salary £27,800

Cost of Living 58/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo

Real Take-Home £22,600/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 6.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Birmingham

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

Best for Affordability

Sunderland

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

Highest Headline Salary

Birmingham

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

Lowest Rent

Sunderland

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 Sunderland

Birmingham

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

Full Birmingham Guide →

Sunderland

Sunderland is home to Nissan's largest European plant and has a growing digital and technology sector driven by major investment.

Full Sunderland Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Birmingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Sunderland

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Manchester vs Sunderland

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Birmingham vs Edinburgh

£33,200 vs £38,900

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Birmingham vs Bristol

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