City Comparison · 2026

Southampton vs St Albans 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

St Albans

Median Salary £45,000

Cost of Living 90/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,500/mo

Real Take-Home £26,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.5%

Unemployment 2.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

St Albans

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

St Albans

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

St Albans

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

Best Overall Value

St Albans

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

Top Salaries: Southampton vs St Albans

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 →

St Albans

St Albans is one of the UK's most affluent towns with the highest average salaries outside London and very high living costs.

Full St Albans Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Southampton

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Jobs in St Albans

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