City Comparison · 2026

Gloucester vs Preston 2026

South West England

Gloucester

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 68/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.5%

Lancashire

Preston

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo

Real Take-Home £23,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 5.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Gloucester

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

Best for Affordability

Preston

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

Highest Headline Salary

Gloucester

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

Lowest Rent

Preston

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

Best for Career Growth

Gloucester

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

Best Overall Value

Gloucester

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

Top Salaries: Gloucester vs Preston

Gloucester

Gloucester is home to GCHQ and has a strong aerospace and defence cluster alongside growing financial services.

Full Gloucester Guide →

Preston

Preston is a major Lancashire city with significant aerospace and manufacturing employment driven by BAE Systems.

Full Preston Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Gloucester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Preston

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£36,500 vs £30,500

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Manchester vs Preston

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Gloucester

£33,200 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs Preston

£33,200 vs £29,500

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