City Comparison · 2026

Luton vs Gloucester 2026

East of England

Luton

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 75/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,000/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 5.2%

South West England

Gloucester

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 68/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Gloucester

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

Best for Affordability

Gloucester

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

Highest Headline Salary

Luton

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

Lowest Rent

Gloucester

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

Best for Career Growth

Luton

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

Best Overall Value

Gloucester

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

Top Salaries: Luton vs Gloucester

Luton

Luton is a major aviation hub with London Luton Airport driving significant logistics and hospitality employment.

Full Luton Guide →

Gloucester

Gloucester is home to GCHQ and has a strong aerospace and defence cluster alongside growing financial services.

Full Gloucester Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Luton

Browse live Luton vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Luton Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Gloucester

Browse live Gloucester vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Gloucester Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Luton

£52,800 vs £31,500

Compare →

London vs Gloucester

£52,800 vs £30,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Luton

£36,500 vs £31,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Gloucester

£36,500 vs £30,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Luton

£33,200 vs £31,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Gloucester

£33,200 vs £30,500

Compare →

All City Comparisons →