City Comparison · 2026

Leicester vs York 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 Yorkshire

York

Median Salary £31,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £23,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.5%

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

York

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

York

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 York

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 →

York

York is a historic city with a strong professional services and financial sector alongside significant tourism and chocolate manufacturing heritage.

Full York Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Leicester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in York

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More Comparisons

London vs Leicester

£52,800 vs £30,500

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London vs York

£52,800 vs £31,000

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Manchester vs Leicester

£36,500 vs £30,500

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Manchester vs York

£36,500 vs £31,000

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Birmingham vs Leicester

£33,200 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs York

£33,200 vs £31,000

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