City Comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Luton 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 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%

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

Manchester

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 Luton

Manchester

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

Full Manchester Guide →

Luton

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

Full Luton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Manchester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Luton

Browse live Luton vacancies on Reed right now.

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More Comparisons

London vs Manchester

£52,800 vs £36,500

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London vs Luton

£52,800 vs £31,500

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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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All City Comparisons →