City Comparison · 2026

Leicester vs Sunderland 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%

North East England

Sunderland

Median Salary £27,800

Cost of Living 58/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo

Real Take-Home £22,600/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 6.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Leicester

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

Best for Affordability

Sunderland

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

Highest Headline Salary

Leicester

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

Lowest Rent

Sunderland

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 Sunderland

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 →

Sunderland

Sunderland is home to Nissan's largest European plant and has a growing digital and technology sector driven by major investment.

Full Sunderland Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Leicester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Sunderland

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£33,200 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs Sunderland

£33,200 vs £27,800

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