City Comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Slough 2026

East of England

Cambridge

Median Salary £42,000

Cost of Living 92/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,450/mo

Real Take-Home £25,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 5.2%

Unemployment 2.5%

South East England

Slough

Median Salary £38,000

Cost of Living 82/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,200/mo

Real Take-Home £25,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Cambridge

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

Best for Affordability

Slough

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

Highest Headline Salary

Cambridge

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Slough

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Cambridge

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Cambridge

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

Top Salaries: Cambridge vs Slough

Cambridge

Cambridge is home to the UK's most prestigious tech cluster — Silicon Fen — with world-leading biotechnology and AI companies.

Full Cambridge Guide →

Slough

Slough is one of the UK's most economically productive towns with major multinational headquarters and excellent transport links.

Full Slough Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Cambridge

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Slough

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