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City Comparison · 2026

Stoke-on-Trent vs Southampton 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
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%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Southampton
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
Southampton
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
Southampton
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Southampton
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Stoke-on-Trent vs Southampton

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 →

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 →
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 Southampton

Browse live Southampton vacancies on Reed right now.

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