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City Comparison · 2026

Birmingham vs Swansea 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
Wales
Swansea
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo
Real Take-Home £23,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Birmingham
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Swansea
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
Swansea
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 Swansea

Birmingham

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

Full Birmingham Guide →

Swansea

Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.

Full Swansea Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Birmingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

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