City Comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Derby 2026

Greater Manchester

Manchester

Median Salary £36,500

Cost of Living 72/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £26,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 5.8%

Unemployment 4.1%

East Midlands

Derby

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Manchester

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

Best for Affordability

Derby

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

Highest Headline Salary

Manchester

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

Lowest Rent

Derby

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

Best for Career Growth

Manchester

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

Best Overall Value

Manchester

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

Top Salaries: Manchester vs Derby

Manchester

Manchester is the UK's second city for business with a thriving digital economy and significantly lower costs than London.

Full Manchester Guide →

Derby

Derby is a major aerospace and manufacturing hub. Rolls-Royce headquarters here makes it one of the UK's leading engineering cities.

Full Derby Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Manchester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Derby

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Manchester vs Birmingham

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Manchester vs Edinburgh

£36,500 vs £38,900

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Manchester vs Bristol

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Manchester vs Leeds

£36,500 vs £34,800

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