City Comparison · 2026

Luton vs Shrewsbury 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%

West Midlands

Shrewsbury

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £720/mo

Real Take-Home £22,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Luton

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

Best for Affordability

Shrewsbury

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

Shrewsbury

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

Luton

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

Top Salaries: Luton vs Shrewsbury

Luton

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

Full Luton Guide →

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire with a strong public sector and growing tourism economy.

Full Shrewsbury Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Luton

Browse live Luton vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Luton Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Shrewsbury

Browse live Shrewsbury vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Shrewsbury Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Luton

£52,800 vs £31,500

Compare →

London vs Shrewsbury

£52,800 vs £28,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Luton

£36,500 vs £31,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Shrewsbury

£36,500 vs £28,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Luton

£33,200 vs £31,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Shrewsbury

£33,200 vs £28,500

Compare →

All City Comparisons →