City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Ipswich 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%

East of England

Ipswich

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 66/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £770/mo

Real Take-Home £23,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Ipswich

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

Ipswich

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 Ipswich

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 →

Ipswich

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk with a strong financial services sector and major port driving logistics employment.

Full Ipswich Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Ipswich

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More Comparisons

London vs Bristol

£52,800 vs £38,200

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London vs Ipswich

£52,800 vs £29,500

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Ipswich

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Ipswich

£33,200 vs £29,500

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All City Comparisons →