City Comparison · 2026

Leeds vs Liverpool 2026

West Yorkshire

Leeds

Median Salary £34,800

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £25,600/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.7%

Unemployment 4.3%

Merseyside

Liverpool

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo

Real Take-Home £24,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 5.1%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Leeds

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

Best for Affordability

Liverpool

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

Highest Headline Salary

Leeds

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

Lowest Rent

Liverpool

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

Best for Career Growth

Leeds

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

Best Overall Value

Leeds

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

Top Salaries: Leeds vs Liverpool

Leeds

Leeds is the largest city in Yorkshire and a major financial centre with a rapidly growing digital and creative economy.

Full Leeds Guide →

Liverpool

Liverpool is a major port city undergoing significant economic regeneration with growing digital and creative sectors.

Full Liverpool Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Leeds

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Liverpool

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£52,800 vs £34,800

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Manchester vs Leeds

£36,500 vs £34,800

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Manchester vs Liverpool

£36,500 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Leeds

£33,200 vs £34,800

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Birmingham vs Liverpool

£33,200 vs £31,500

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