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City Comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Sheffield 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%
VS
South Yorkshire
Sheffield
Median Salary £30,800
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo
Real Take-Home £24,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 4.9%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Manchester
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Sheffield
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
Sheffield
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 Sheffield

Manchester

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

Full Manchester Guide →

Sheffield

Sheffield has transformed from a steel city into a centre for advanced manufacturing and digital with very affordable living costs.

Full Sheffield Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Manchester

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Jobs in Sheffield

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