City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Portsmouth 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%

South East England

Portsmouth

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

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

Portsmouth

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

Portsmouth

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 Portsmouth

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 →

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a major naval base and maritime city with significant defence industry employment and two universities.

Full Portsmouth Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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More Comparisons

London vs Bristol

£52,800 vs £38,200

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London vs Portsmouth

£52,800 vs £31,500

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Portsmouth

£36,500 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Portsmouth

£33,200 vs £31,500

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