City Comparison · 2026

Plymouth vs Inverness 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%

Scottish Highlands

Inverness

Median Salary £30,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £22,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Inverness

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

Inverness

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

Inverness

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

Best Overall Value

Inverness

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

Top Salaries: Plymouth vs Inverness

Plymouth

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

Full Plymouth Guide →

Inverness

Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands with strong healthcare and public sector employment and growing tourism and energy sectors.

Full Inverness Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Plymouth

Browse live Plymouth vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Plymouth Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Inverness

Browse live Inverness vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Inverness Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Plymouth

£52,800 vs £28,500

Compare →

London vs Inverness

£52,800 vs £30,000

Compare →

Manchester vs Plymouth

£36,500 vs £28,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Inverness

£36,500 vs £30,000

Compare →

Birmingham vs Plymouth

£33,200 vs £28,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Inverness

£33,200 vs £30,000

Compare →

All City Comparisons →