City Comparison · 2026

Newcastle vs Leicester 2026

North East England

Newcastle

Median Salary £29,800

Cost of Living 61/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 5.4%

East Midlands

Leicester

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 65/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo

Real Take-Home £23,900/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Leicester

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

Best for Affordability

Newcastle

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

Highest Headline Salary

Leicester

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

Lowest Rent

Newcastle

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

Best for Career Growth

Leicester

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

Best Overall Value

Leicester

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

Top Salaries: Newcastle vs Leicester

Newcastle

Newcastle is the North East's economic hub with a thriving digital sector and the lowest cost of living of any major UK city.

Full Newcastle Guide →

Leicester

Leicester is one of the UK's most diverse cities with a strong manufacturing base and growing retail and education sectors.

Full Leicester Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Newcastle

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Leicester

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£36,500 vs £29,800

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Birmingham vs Newcastle

£33,200 vs £29,800

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Birmingham vs Leicester

£33,200 vs £30,500

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