City Comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Portsmouth 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

Portsmouth

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Manchester

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

Best for Affordability

Portsmouth

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

Portsmouth

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 Portsmouth

Manchester

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

Full Manchester Guide →

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a major naval base and maritime city with significant defence industry employment and two universities.

Full Portsmouth Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Manchester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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£52,800 vs £36,500

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London vs Portsmouth

£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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