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City Comparison · 2026

Portsmouth vs Belfast 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%
VS
Northern Ireland
Belfast
Median Salary £31,000
Cost of Living 65/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £750/mo
Real Take-Home £24,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.8%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Portsmouth vs Belfast

Portsmouth

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

Full Portsmouth Guide →

Belfast

Belfast has emerged as a major technology hub with significant investment from US tech companies attracted by competitive costs.

Full Belfast Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Belfast

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