City Comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Guildford 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%

South East England

Guildford

Median Salary £42,000

Cost of Living 88/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,400/mo

Real Take-Home £25,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 2.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Manchester

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

Best for Affordability

Manchester

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

Highest Headline Salary

Guildford

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

Lowest Rent

Manchester

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 Guildford

Manchester

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

Full Manchester Guide →

Guildford

Guildford is one of the UK's most prosperous towns with a strong technology and gaming sector near London.

Full Guildford Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Manchester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Guildford

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£52,800 vs £36,500

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London vs Guildford

£52,800 vs £42,000

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Manchester vs Birmingham

£36,500 vs £33,200

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Manchester vs Edinburgh

£36,500 vs £38,900

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Manchester vs Bristol

£36,500 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Leeds

£36,500 vs £34,800

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