City Comparison · 2026

Nottingham vs Oxford 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%

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

Nottingham

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

Nottingham

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: Nottingham vs Oxford

Nottingham

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

Full Nottingham 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 Nottingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Oxford

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More Comparisons

London vs Nottingham

£52,800 vs £30,200

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London vs Oxford

£52,800 vs £40,000

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Manchester vs Nottingham

£36,500 vs £30,200

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Manchester vs Oxford

£36,500 vs £40,000

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Birmingham vs Nottingham

£33,200 vs £30,200

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Birmingham vs Oxford

£33,200 vs £40,000

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All City Comparisons →