City Comparison · 2026

Ipswich vs St Albans 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%

South East England

St Albans

Median Salary £45,000

Cost of Living 90/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,500/mo

Real Take-Home £26,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.5%

Unemployment 2.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

St Albans

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

Best for Affordability

Ipswich

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

Highest Headline Salary

St Albans

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

Lowest Rent

Ipswich

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

Best for Career Growth

St Albans

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

Best Overall Value

St Albans

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

Top Salaries: Ipswich vs St Albans

Ipswich

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

Full Ipswich Guide →

St Albans

St Albans is one of the UK's most affluent towns with the highest average salaries outside London and very high living costs.

Full St Albans Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Ipswich

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Live Jobs

Jobs in St Albans

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More Comparisons

London vs Ipswich

£52,800 vs £29,500

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London vs St Albans

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Manchester vs Ipswich

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Manchester vs St Albans

£36,500 vs £45,000

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Birmingham vs Ipswich

£33,200 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs St Albans

£33,200 vs £45,000

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