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City Comparison · 2026

Oxford vs Swansea 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%
VS
Wales
Swansea
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo
Real Take-Home £23,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Oxford
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Swansea
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
Swansea
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: Oxford vs Swansea

Oxford

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

Full Oxford Guide →

Swansea

Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.

Full Swansea Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Oxford

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

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