City Comparison · 2026

Glasgow vs Cambridge 2026

Scotland

Glasgow

Median Salary £35,200

Cost of Living 69/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £25,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.1%

Unemployment 4.5%

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%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Glasgow

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

Best for Affordability

Glasgow

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

Glasgow

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

Glasgow

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

Top Salaries: Glasgow vs Cambridge

Glasgow

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and commercial centre with a diverse economy spanning finance, manufacturing and a growing technology sector.

Full Glasgow Guide →

Cambridge

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

Full Cambridge Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Glasgow

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Cambridge

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Birmingham vs Glasgow

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Birmingham vs Cambridge

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