City Comparison · 2026

Bradford vs Luton 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%

East of England

Luton

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 75/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,000/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 5.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bradford

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

Luton

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

Luton

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

Best Overall Value

Bradford

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

Top Salaries: Bradford vs Luton

Bradford

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

Full Bradford Guide →

Luton

Luton is a major aviation hub with London Luton Airport driving significant logistics and hospitality employment.

Full Luton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bradford

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Luton

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More Comparisons

London vs Bradford

£52,800 vs £28,500

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London vs Luton

£52,800 vs £31,500

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Manchester vs Bradford

£36,500 vs £28,500

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Manchester vs Luton

£36,500 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Bradford

£33,200 vs £28,500

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Birmingham vs Luton

£33,200 vs £31,500

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