City Comparison · 2026

Leicester vs Portsmouth 2026

East Midlands

Leicester

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo

Real Take-Home £23,900/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 5%

South East England

Portsmouth

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Leicester

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

Best for Affordability

Leicester

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

Highest Headline Salary

Portsmouth

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

Lowest Rent

Leicester

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

Best for Career Growth

Leicester

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

Best Overall Value

Leicester

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

Top Salaries: Leicester vs Portsmouth

Leicester

Leicester is one of the UK's most diverse cities with a strong manufacturing base and growing retail and education sectors.

Full Leicester Guide →

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a major naval base and maritime city with significant defence industry employment and two universities.

Full Portsmouth Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Leicester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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More Comparisons

London vs Leicester

£52,800 vs £30,500

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Manchester vs Leicester

£36,500 vs £30,500

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Manchester vs Portsmouth

£36,500 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Leicester

£33,200 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs Portsmouth

£33,200 vs £31,500

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