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City Comparison · 2026

Sheffield vs Preston 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%
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
Sheffield
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
Sheffield
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
Sheffield
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Sheffield
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Sheffield vs Preston

Sheffield

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

Full Sheffield Guide →

Preston

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

Full Preston Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Sheffield

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Preston

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