City Comparison · 2026

Bradford vs Gloucester 2026

West Yorkshire

Bradford

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 60/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £650/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 5.8%

South West England

Gloucester

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 68/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Gloucester

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

Best for Affordability

Bradford

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

Highest Headline Salary

Gloucester

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

Lowest Rent

Bradford

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Gloucester

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Gloucester

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

Top Salaries: Bradford vs Gloucester

Bradford

Bradford has the youngest average population of any UK city with a growing creative and digital sector alongside traditional manufacturing.

Full Bradford Guide →

Gloucester

Gloucester is home to GCHQ and has a strong aerospace and defence cluster alongside growing financial services.

Full Gloucester Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bradford

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Jobs in Gloucester

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£52,800 vs £28,500

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£36,500 vs £28,500

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Manchester vs Gloucester

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Birmingham vs Bradford

£33,200 vs £28,500

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Birmingham vs Gloucester

£33,200 vs £30,500

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