City Comparison · 2026

Nottingham vs Aberdeen 2026

East Midlands

Nottingham

Median Salary £30,200

Cost of Living 64/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £720/mo

Real Take-Home £23,700/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.4%

Unemployment 5.2%

Scotland

Aberdeen

Median Salary £40,000

Cost of Living 76/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £28,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Aberdeen

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

Best for Affordability

Nottingham

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

Highest Headline Salary

Aberdeen

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

Lowest Rent

Nottingham

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

Best for Career Growth

Nottingham

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

Best Overall Value

Aberdeen

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

Top Salaries: Nottingham vs Aberdeen

Nottingham

Nottingham is a major retail and education centre in the East Midlands with growing bioscience and digital sectors.

Full Nottingham Guide →

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is the oil capital of Europe with above-average salaries driven by the energy sector despite a challenging transition period.

Full Aberdeen Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Nottingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Aberdeen

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More Comparisons

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£52,800 vs £30,200

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£36,500 vs £30,200

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Manchester vs Aberdeen

£36,500 vs £40,000

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Birmingham vs Nottingham

£33,200 vs £30,200

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Birmingham vs Aberdeen

£33,200 vs £40,000

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