City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Swansea 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%

Wales

Swansea

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo

Real Take-Home £23,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 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

Swansea

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

Swansea

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 Swansea

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 →

Swansea

Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.

Full Swansea Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

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Manchester vs Swansea

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Swansea

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