City Comparison · 2026

Exeter vs Peterborough 2026

South West England

Exeter

Median Salary £32,000

Cost of Living 72/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £950/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 3.5%

East of England

Peterborough

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 67/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Exeter

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

Best for Affordability

Peterborough

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

Highest Headline Salary

Exeter

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

Lowest Rent

Peterborough

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

Best for Career Growth

Exeter

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

Best Overall Value

Exeter

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

Top Salaries: Exeter vs Peterborough

Exeter

Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK with a strong professional services and knowledge economy.

Full Exeter Guide →

Peterborough

Peterborough is a major logistics and distribution hub with excellent road and rail connections to London.

Full Peterborough Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Exeter

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Peterborough

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More Comparisons

London vs Exeter

£52,800 vs £32,000

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London vs Peterborough

£52,800 vs £30,500

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Manchester vs Exeter

£36,500 vs £32,000

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Manchester vs Peterborough

£36,500 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs Exeter

£33,200 vs £32,000

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Birmingham vs Peterborough

£33,200 vs £30,500

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