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City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Southampton 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
Southampton
Median Salary £33,500
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £24,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4%
Unemployment 4.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Bristol
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Southampton
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
Southampton
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 Southampton

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 →

Southampton

Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port with a strong maritime economy and two major universities driving the knowledge economy.

Full Southampton Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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