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City Comparison · 2026

Birmingham vs Woking 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
Woking
Median Salary £40,000
Cost of Living 85/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,300/mo
Real Take-Home £25,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4%
Unemployment 2.8%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Woking
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
Woking
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
Woking
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Birmingham vs Woking

Birmingham

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

Full Birmingham Guide →

Woking

Woking is a major business centre in Surrey with excellent London rail links and a strong technology and financial services cluster.

Full Woking Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Birmingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Woking

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