City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Peterborough 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

Peterborough

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 67/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Peterborough

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

Peterborough

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 Peterborough

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 →

Peterborough

Peterborough is a major logistics and distribution hub with excellent road and rail connections to London.

Full Peterborough Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Peterborough

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More Comparisons

London vs Bristol

£52,800 vs £38,200

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London vs Peterborough

£52,800 vs £30,500

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Peterborough

£36,500 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Peterborough

£33,200 vs £30,500

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