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City Comparison · 2026

Portsmouth vs Preston 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
Lancashire
Preston
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo
Real Take-Home £23,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 5.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Portsmouth
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Preston
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
Preston
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 Preston

Portsmouth

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

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Preston

Preston is a major Lancashire city with significant aerospace and manufacturing employment driven by BAE Systems.

Full Preston Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Preston

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