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City Comparison · 2026

Southampton vs Milton Keynes 2026

South East England
Southampton
Median Salary £33,500
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £24,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4%
Unemployment 4.2%
VS
South East England
Milton Keynes
Median Salary £38,500
Cost of Living 78/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,100/mo
Real Take-Home £26,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 5.5%
Unemployment 3.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Southampton vs Milton Keynes

Southampton

Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port with a strong maritime economy and two major universities driving the knowledge economy.

Full Southampton Guide →

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is one of the UK's fastest growing cities with a strong business services and technology sector.

Full Milton Keynes Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Milton Keynes

Browse live Milton Keynes vacancies on Reed right now.

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