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%

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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More Comparisons

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£52,800 vs £29,500

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£36,500 vs £29,500

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Manchester vs Bolton

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Ipswich

£33,200 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Bolton

£33,200 vs £29,500

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