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City Comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Swansea 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
Wales
Swansea
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo
Real Take-Home £23,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 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
Swansea
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
Swansea
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 Swansea

Manchester

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

Full Manchester Guide →

Swansea

Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.

Full Swansea Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Manchester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

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