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City Comparison · 2026

London vs Southampton 2026

Greater London
London
Median Salary £52,800
Cost of Living 100/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £2,100/mo
Real Take-Home £28,400/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
Unemployment 3.8%
VS
South East England
Southampton
Median Salary £33,500
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £24,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4%
Unemployment 4.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
London
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Southampton
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
London
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Southampton
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
London
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
London
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: London vs Southampton

London

London is the UK's financial and economic capital, offering the highest salaries of any UK city but also the highest cost of living.

Full London Guide →

Southampton

Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port with a strong maritime economy and two major universities driving the knowledge economy.

Full Southampton Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in London

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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