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City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Reading 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
South East England
Reading
Median Salary £42,000
Cost of Living 85/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,300/mo
Real Take-Home £27,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.8%
Unemployment 3%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Reading
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Bristol
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Reading
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Bristol
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
Reading
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Bristol vs Reading

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 →

Reading

Reading is the UK's Silicon Valley with major tech company headquarters and above-average salaries driven by its proximity to London.

Full Reading Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Reading

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