City Comparison · 2026

Southampton vs Slough 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%

South East England

Slough

Median Salary £38,000

Cost of Living 82/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,200/mo

Real Take-Home £25,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Slough

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

Slough

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

Slough

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

Best Overall Value

Slough

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

Top Salaries: Southampton vs Slough

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 →

Slough

Slough is one of the UK's most economically productive towns with major multinational headquarters and excellent transport links.

Full Slough Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Slough

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