City Comparison · 2026

Newcastle vs Oxford 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%

South East England

Oxford

Median Salary £40,000

Cost of Living 90/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,400/mo

Real Take-Home £25,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.5%

Unemployment 2.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Oxford

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

Oxford

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

Oxford

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

Best Overall Value

Oxford

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

Top Salaries: Newcastle vs Oxford

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 →

Oxford

Oxford combines world-class academia with a growing biomedical and technology cluster. Very high cost of living relative to salary.

Full Oxford Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Newcastle

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Jobs in Oxford

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More Comparisons

London vs Newcastle

£52,800 vs £29,800

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London vs Oxford

£52,800 vs £40,000

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Manchester vs Newcastle

£36,500 vs £29,800

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Manchester vs Oxford

£36,500 vs £40,000

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Birmingham vs Newcastle

£33,200 vs £29,800

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Birmingham vs Oxford

£33,200 vs £40,000

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All City Comparisons →