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City Comparison · 2026

Ipswich vs Bolton 2026

East of England
Ipswich
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 66/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £770/mo
Real Take-Home £23,000/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 4.5%
VS
Greater Manchester
Bolton
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo
Real Take-Home £23,100/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Bolton
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Bolton
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Ipswich
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Bolton
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Ipswich
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Bolton
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Ipswich vs Bolton

Ipswich

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk with a strong financial services sector and major port driving logistics employment.

Full Ipswich Guide →

Bolton

Bolton is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing roots and growing digital and professional services sectors.

Full Bolton Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Ipswich

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Bolton

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