City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Belfast 2026

South West England

Bristol

Median Salary £38,200

Cost of Living 78/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,100/mo

Real Take-Home £26,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 5.1%

Unemployment 3.5%

Northern Ireland

Belfast

Median Salary £31,000

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.8%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Belfast

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

Highest Headline Salary

Bristol

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

Lowest Rent

Belfast

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

Best for Career Growth

Bristol

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

Best Overall Value

Bristol

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

Top Salaries: Bristol vs Belfast

Bristol

Bristol consistently ranks as one of the UK's best cities for quality of life with above-average salaries and a booming tech sector.

Full Bristol Guide →

Belfast

Belfast has emerged as a major technology hub with significant investment from US tech companies attracted by competitive costs.

Full Belfast Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Belfast

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More Comparisons

London vs Bristol

£52,800 vs £38,200

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London vs Belfast

£52,800 vs £31,000

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Belfast

£36,500 vs £31,000

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Belfast

£33,200 vs £31,000

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