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City Comparison · 2026

Leeds vs Middlesbrough 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%
VS
Tees Valley
Middlesbrough
Median Salary £28,000
Cost of Living 58/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo
Real Take-Home £22,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 6.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Leeds
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Middlesbrough
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
Middlesbrough
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 Middlesbrough

Leeds

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

Full Leeds Guide →

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is the heart of the Tees Valley with a major chemical and manufacturing cluster and significant investment in digital.

Full Middlesbrough Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Leeds

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Middlesbrough

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