City Comparison · 2026

Northampton vs Brighton 2026

East Midlands

Northampton

Median Salary £30,000

Cost of Living 66/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 4.8%

South East England

Brighton

Median Salary £36,000

Cost of Living 80/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,200/mo

Real Take-Home £24,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Brighton

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

Best for Affordability

Northampton

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

Highest Headline Salary

Brighton

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

Lowest Rent

Northampton

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

Best for Career Growth

Brighton

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

Best Overall Value

Brighton

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

Top Salaries: Northampton vs Brighton

Northampton

Northampton has excellent logistics connections and a strong financial services sector driven by Barclays and other financial firms.

Full Northampton Guide →

Brighton

Brighton is the UK's creative and digital capital outside London with a thriving startup scene and strong tourism economy.

Full Brighton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Northampton

Browse live Northampton vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Northampton Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Brighton

Browse live Brighton vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Brighton Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Northampton

£52,800 vs £30,000

Compare →

London vs Brighton

£52,800 vs £36,000

Compare →

Manchester vs Northampton

£36,500 vs £30,000

Compare →

Manchester vs Brighton

£36,500 vs £36,000

Compare →

Birmingham vs Northampton

£33,200 vs £30,000

Compare →

Birmingham vs Brighton

£33,200 vs £36,000

Compare →

All City Comparisons →