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City Comparison · 2026

Stoke-on-Trent vs Bolton 2026

Staffordshire
Stoke-on-Trent
Median Salary £27,500
Cost of Living 58/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £600/mo
Real Take-Home £22,400/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3%
Unemployment 6.2%
VS
Greater Manchester
Bolton
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo
Real Take-Home £23,100/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.2%
Unemployment 5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Stoke-on-Trent vs Bolton

Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent is undergoing regeneration with bet365 as a major employer and growing logistics and manufacturing sectors.

Full Stoke-on-Trent Guide →

Bolton

Bolton is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing roots and growing digital and professional services sectors.

Full Bolton Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Stoke-on-Trent

Browse live Stoke-on-Trent vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Bolton

Browse live Bolton vacancies on Reed right now.

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