City Comparison · 2026

Ipswich vs Lancaster 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%

Lancashire

Lancaster

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo

Real Take-Home £22,600/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Ipswich

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

Best for Affordability

Lancaster

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

Lancaster

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

Ipswich

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

Top Salaries: Ipswich vs Lancaster

Ipswich

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

Full Ipswich Guide →

Lancaster

Lancaster is a historic city with Lancaster University driving the knowledge economy and growing digital and healthcare sectors.

Full Lancaster Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Ipswich

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Lancaster

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