City Comparison · 2026

Glasgow vs Derby 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 Midlands

Derby

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Glasgow

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

Best for Affordability

Derby

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

Highest Headline Salary

Glasgow

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

Lowest Rent

Derby

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

Best for Career Growth

Glasgow

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 Derby

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 →

Derby

Derby is a major aerospace and manufacturing hub. Rolls-Royce headquarters here makes it one of the UK's leading engineering cities.

Full Derby Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Glasgow

Browse live Glasgow vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Glasgow Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Derby

Browse live Derby vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Derby Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Glasgow

£52,800 vs £35,200

Compare →

London vs Derby

£52,800 vs £31,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Glasgow

£36,500 vs £35,200

Compare →

Manchester vs Derby

£36,500 vs £31,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Glasgow

£33,200 vs £35,200

Compare →

Birmingham vs Derby

£33,200 vs £31,500

Compare →

All City Comparisons →