City Comparison · 2026

Peterborough vs Swindon 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%

South West England

Swindon

Median Salary £33,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £25,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Swindon

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

Best for Affordability

Peterborough

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

Highest Headline Salary

Swindon

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

Lowest Rent

Peterborough

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

Swindon

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

Top Salaries: Peterborough vs Swindon

Peterborough

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

Full Peterborough Guide →

Swindon

Swindon is home to Nationwide Building Society headquarters and has a strong manufacturing base including Honda's UK plant.

Full Swindon Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Peterborough

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swindon

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Manchester vs Swindon

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Birmingham vs Peterborough

£33,200 vs £30,500

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Edinburgh vs Peterborough

£38,900 vs £30,500

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