City Comparison · 2026

Sheffield vs Oxford 2026

South Yorkshire

Sheffield

Median Salary £30,800

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 4.9%

South East England

Oxford

Median Salary £40,000

Cost of Living 90/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,400/mo

Real Take-Home £25,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.5%

Unemployment 2.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Oxford

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

Best for Affordability

Sheffield

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Oxford

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Sheffield

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Oxford

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Oxford

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

Top Salaries: Sheffield vs Oxford

Sheffield

Sheffield has transformed from a steel city into a centre for advanced manufacturing and digital with very affordable living costs.

Full Sheffield Guide →

Oxford

Oxford combines world-class academia with a growing biomedical and technology cluster. Very high cost of living relative to salary.

Full Oxford Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Sheffield

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Jobs in Oxford

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More Comparisons

London vs Sheffield

£52,800 vs £30,800

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London vs Oxford

£52,800 vs £40,000

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Manchester vs Sheffield

£36,500 vs £30,800

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Manchester vs Oxford

£36,500 vs £40,000

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Birmingham vs Sheffield

£33,200 vs £30,800

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Birmingham vs Oxford

£33,200 vs £40,000

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All City Comparisons →