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City Comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Belfast 2026

Scotland
Edinburgh
Median Salary £38,900
Cost of Living 79/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,050/mo
Real Take-Home £27,500/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.5%
Unemployment 3.2%
VS
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Median Salary £31,000
Cost of Living 65/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo
Real Take-Home £24,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.8%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Edinburgh
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Belfast
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Edinburgh
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Belfast
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Belfast
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Edinburgh
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Edinburgh vs Belfast

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and financial centre with above-average UK salaries and a thriving technology and fintech scene.

Full Edinburgh Guide →

Belfast

Belfast has emerged as a major technology hub with significant investment from US tech companies attracted by competitive costs.

Full Belfast Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Edinburgh

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Belfast

Browse live Belfast vacancies on Reed right now.

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