Home / Compare / Plymouth vs Exeter
City Comparison · 2026

Plymouth vs Exeter 2026

South West England
Plymouth
Median Salary £28,500
Cost of Living 65/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo
Real Take-Home £22,400/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 5.2%
VS
South West England
Exeter
Median Salary £32,000
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £950/mo
Real Take-Home £23,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Exeter
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Plymouth
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Exeter
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Plymouth
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Exeter
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Exeter
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Plymouth vs Exeter

Plymouth

Plymouth is a major naval base and maritime city with strong defence industry employment and a growing digital sector.

Full Plymouth Guide →

Exeter

Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK with a strong professional services and knowledge economy.

Full Exeter Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Plymouth

Browse live Plymouth vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Plymouth Jobs →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Exeter

Browse live Exeter vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Exeter Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Plymouth
£52,800 vs £28,500
Compare →
London vs Exeter
£52,800 vs £32,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Plymouth
£36,500 vs £28,500
Compare →
Manchester vs Exeter
£36,500 vs £32,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Plymouth
£33,200 vs £28,500
Compare →
Birmingham vs Exeter
£33,200 vs £32,000
Compare →
All City Comparisons →
Scroll to Top