City Comparison · 2026

Portsmouth vs Aberdeen 2026

South East England

Portsmouth

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 4.5%

Scotland

Aberdeen

Median Salary £40,000

Cost of Living 76/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £28,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Aberdeen

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

Best for Affordability

Portsmouth

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

Highest Headline Salary

Aberdeen

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

Lowest Rent

Portsmouth

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

Best for Career Growth

Portsmouth

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

Best Overall Value

Aberdeen

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

Top Salaries: Portsmouth vs Aberdeen

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a major naval base and maritime city with significant defence industry employment and two universities.

Full Portsmouth Guide →

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is the oil capital of Europe with above-average salaries driven by the energy sector despite a challenging transition period.

Full Aberdeen Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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Jobs in Aberdeen

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