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City Comparison · 2026

Stoke-on-Trent vs Swansea 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
Wales
Swansea
Median Salary £29,500
Cost of Living 63/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo
Real Take-Home £23,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Stoke-on-Trent vs Swansea

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 →

Swansea

Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.

Full Swansea 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 Swansea

Browse live Swansea vacancies on Reed right now.

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