Home / Compare / Reading vs Middlesbrough
City Comparison · 2026

Reading vs Middlesbrough 2026

South East England
Reading
Median Salary £42,000
Cost of Living 85/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,300/mo
Real Take-Home £27,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.8%
Unemployment 3%
VS
Tees Valley
Middlesbrough
Median Salary £28,000
Cost of Living 58/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo
Real Take-Home £22,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 6.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Reading vs Middlesbrough

Reading

Reading is the UK's Silicon Valley with major tech company headquarters and above-average salaries driven by its proximity to London.

Full Reading Guide →

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is the heart of the Tees Valley with a major chemical and manufacturing cluster and significant investment in digital.

Full Middlesbrough Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Reading

Browse live Reading vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Reading Jobs →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Middlesbrough

Browse live Middlesbrough vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Middlesbrough Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Reading
£52,800 vs £42,000
Compare →
London vs Middlesbrough
£52,800 vs £28,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Reading
£36,500 vs £42,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Middlesbrough
£36,500 vs £28,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Reading
£33,200 vs £42,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Middlesbrough
£33,200 vs £28,000
Compare →
All City Comparisons →
Scroll to Top