City Comparison · 2026

Middlesbrough vs Swansea 2026

Tees Valley

Middlesbrough

Median Salary £28,000

Cost of Living 58/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 6.5%

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

Swansea

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

Best for Affordability

Middlesbrough

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

Highest Headline Salary

Swansea

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

Lowest Rent

Middlesbrough

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Swansea

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Swansea

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Middlesbrough vs Swansea

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is the heart of the Tees Valley with a major chemical and manufacturing cluster and significant investment in digital.

Full Middlesbrough 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 Middlesbrough

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

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