City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Middlesbrough 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%

Tees Valley

Middlesbrough

Median Salary £28,000

Cost of Living 58/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 6.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Middlesbrough

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

Middlesbrough

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 Middlesbrough

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 →

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is the heart of the Tees Valley with a major chemical and manufacturing cluster and significant investment in digital.

Full Middlesbrough Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Middlesbrough

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More Comparisons

London vs Bristol

£52,800 vs £38,200

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London vs Middlesbrough

£52,800 vs £28,000

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Middlesbrough

£36,500 vs £28,000

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Middlesbrough

£33,200 vs £28,000

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