Home / Compare / Bristol vs Leicester
City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Leicester 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
East Midlands
Leicester
Median Salary £30,500
Cost of Living 65/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo
Real Take-Home £23,900/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.6%
Unemployment 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
Leicester
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
Leicester
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 Leicester

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 →

Leicester

Leicester is one of the UK's most diverse cities with a strong manufacturing base and growing retail and education sectors.

Full Leicester Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

Browse live Bristol vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Bristol Jobs →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Leicester

Browse live Leicester vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Leicester Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Bristol
£52,800 vs £38,200
Compare →
London vs Leicester
£52,800 vs £30,500
Compare →
Manchester vs Bristol
£36,500 vs £38,200
Compare →
Manchester vs Leicester
£36,500 vs £30,500
Compare →
Birmingham vs Bristol
£33,200 vs £38,200
Compare →
Birmingham vs Leicester
£33,200 vs £30,500
Compare →
All City Comparisons →
Scroll to Top