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City Comparison · 2026

Portsmouth vs St Albans 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
South East England
St Albans
Median Salary £45,000
Cost of Living 90/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,500/mo
Real Take-Home £26,500/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.5%
Unemployment 2.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
St Albans
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
St Albans
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
St Albans
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
St Albans
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Portsmouth vs St Albans

Portsmouth

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

Full Portsmouth Guide →

St Albans

St Albans is one of the UK's most affluent towns with the highest average salaries outside London and very high living costs.

Full St Albans Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Portsmouth

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Jobs in St Albans

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