City Comparison · 2026

Bradford vs Portsmouth 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 East England

Portsmouth

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Portsmouth

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

Portsmouth

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

Portsmouth

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

Best Overall Value

Portsmouth

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

Top Salaries: Bradford vs Portsmouth

Bradford

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

Full Bradford Guide →

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a major naval base and maritime city with significant defence industry employment and two universities.

Full Portsmouth Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bradford

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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More Comparisons

London vs Bradford

£52,800 vs £28,500

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London vs Portsmouth

£52,800 vs £31,500

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Manchester vs Bradford

£36,500 vs £28,500

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Manchester vs Portsmouth

£36,500 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Bradford

£33,200 vs £28,500

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Birmingham vs Portsmouth

£33,200 vs £31,500

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