City Comparison · 2026

Brighton vs York 2026

South East England

Brighton

Median Salary £36,000

Cost of Living 80/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,200/mo

Real Take-Home £24,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 3.8%

North Yorkshire

York

Median Salary £31,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £23,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Brighton

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

Best for Affordability

York

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

Highest Headline Salary

Brighton

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

Lowest Rent

York

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

Best for Career Growth

Brighton

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

Best Overall Value

Brighton

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

Top Salaries: Brighton vs York

Brighton

Brighton is the UK's creative and digital capital outside London with a thriving startup scene and strong tourism economy.

Full Brighton Guide →

York

York is a historic city with a strong professional services and financial sector alongside significant tourism and chocolate manufacturing heritage.

Full York Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Brighton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in York

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£36,500 vs £36,000

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Birmingham vs Brighton

£33,200 vs £36,000

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Birmingham vs York

£33,200 vs £31,000

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