City Comparison · 2026

Peterborough vs Preston 2026

East of England

Peterborough

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 67/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.8%

Lancashire

Preston

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo

Real Take-Home £23,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 5.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Peterborough

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

Best for Affordability

Preston

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

Highest Headline Salary

Peterborough

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

Lowest Rent

Preston

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Peterborough

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Peterborough

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

Top Salaries: Peterborough vs Preston

Peterborough

Peterborough is a major logistics and distribution hub with excellent road and rail connections to London.

Full Peterborough Guide →

Preston

Preston is a major Lancashire city with significant aerospace and manufacturing employment driven by BAE Systems.

Full Preston Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Peterborough

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Preston

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Manchester vs Preston

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Birmingham vs Peterborough

£33,200 vs £30,500

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Birmingham vs Preston

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