City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Brighton 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%

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%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Bristol

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

Bristol

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 Brighton

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 →

Brighton

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

Full Brighton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

Browse live Bristol vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Bristol Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Brighton

Browse live Brighton vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Brighton Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Bristol

£52,800 vs £38,200

Compare →

London vs Brighton

£52,800 vs £36,000

Compare →

Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

Compare →

Manchester vs Brighton

£36,500 vs £36,000

Compare →

Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

Compare →

Birmingham vs Brighton

£33,200 vs £36,000

Compare →

All City Comparisons →