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City Comparison · 2026

Newcastle vs Portsmouth 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%
VS
South East England
Portsmouth
Median Salary £31,500
Cost of Living 70/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo
Real Take-Home £23,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.6%
Unemployment 4.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Portsmouth
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
Portsmouth
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
Portsmouth
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Portsmouth
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Newcastle vs Portsmouth

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 →

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a major naval base and maritime city with significant defence industry employment and two universities.

Full Portsmouth Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Newcastle

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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