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City Comparison · 2026

Nottingham vs Southampton 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 East England
Southampton
Median Salary £33,500
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £24,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4%
Unemployment 4.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Nottingham vs Southampton

Nottingham

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

Full Nottingham Guide →

Southampton

Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port with a strong maritime economy and two major universities driving the knowledge economy.

Full Southampton Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Nottingham

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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