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City Comparison · 2026

Nottingham vs Exeter 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%
VS
South West England
Exeter
Median Salary £32,000
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £950/mo
Real Take-Home £23,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Nottingham vs Exeter

Nottingham

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

Full Nottingham Guide →

Exeter

Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK with a strong professional services and knowledge economy.

Full Exeter Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Nottingham

Browse live Nottingham vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Exeter

Browse live Exeter vacancies on Reed right now.

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