City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs St Albans 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

St Albans

Median Salary £45,000

Cost of Living 90/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,500/mo

Real Take-Home £26,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.5%

Unemployment 2.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Bristol

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

St Albans

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

Bristol

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Bristol vs St Albans

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 →

St Albans

St Albans is one of the UK's most affluent towns with the highest average salaries outside London and very high living costs.

Full St Albans Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in St Albans

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More Comparisons

London vs Bristol

£52,800 vs £38,200

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London vs St Albans

£52,800 vs £45,000

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs St Albans

£36,500 vs £45,000

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs St Albans

£33,200 vs £45,000

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All City Comparisons →