City Comparison · 2026

Portsmouth vs Ipswich 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%

East of England

Ipswich

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 66/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £770/mo

Real Take-Home £23,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Portsmouth

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

Best for Affordability

Ipswich

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

Ipswich

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

Portsmouth

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

Top Salaries: Portsmouth vs Ipswich

Portsmouth

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

Full Portsmouth Guide →

Ipswich

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk with a strong financial services sector and major port driving logistics employment.

Full Ipswich Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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Jobs in Ipswich

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More Comparisons

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£33,200 vs £31,500

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Birmingham vs Ipswich

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