City Comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Swansea 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%

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

Edinburgh

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

Edinburgh

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

Edinburgh

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 Swansea

Edinburgh

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

Full Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

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£52,800 vs £38,900

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Manchester vs Edinburgh

£36,500 vs £38,900

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Manchester vs Swansea

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Edinburgh

£33,200 vs £38,900

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Birmingham vs Swansea

£33,200 vs £29,500

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