Home / Compare / Bristol vs Exeter
City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Exeter 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%
VS
South West England
Exeter
Median Salary £32,000
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £950/mo
Real Take-Home £23,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
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
Exeter
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
Exeter
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 Exeter

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 →

Exeter

Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK with a strong professional services and knowledge economy.

Full Exeter Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

Browse live Bristol vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Bristol Jobs →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Exeter

Browse live Exeter vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Exeter Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Bristol
£52,800 vs £38,200
Compare →
London vs Exeter
£52,800 vs £32,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Bristol
£36,500 vs £38,200
Compare →
Manchester vs Exeter
£36,500 vs £32,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Bristol
£33,200 vs £38,200
Compare →
Birmingham vs Exeter
£33,200 vs £32,000
Compare →
All City Comparisons →
Scroll to Top