City Comparison · 2026

Oxford vs Guildford 2026

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%

South East England

Guildford

Median Salary £42,000

Cost of Living 88/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,400/mo

Real Take-Home £25,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 2.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Guildford

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

Best for Affordability

Guildford

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

Highest Headline Salary

Guildford

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

Lowest Rent

Oxford

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

Guildford

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

Top Salaries: Oxford vs Guildford

Oxford

Oxford combines world-class academia with a growing biomedical and technology cluster. Very high cost of living relative to salary.

Full Oxford Guide →

Guildford

Guildford is one of the UK's most prosperous towns with a strong technology and gaming sector near London.

Full Guildford Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Oxford

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Guildford

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