City Comparison · 2026

Stoke-on-Trent vs Swindon 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%

South West England

Swindon

Median Salary £33,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £25,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.8%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Swindon

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

Swindon

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

Swindon

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

Best Overall Value

Swindon

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

Top Salaries: Stoke-on-Trent vs Swindon

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 →

Swindon

Swindon is home to Nationwide Building Society headquarters and has a strong manufacturing base including Honda's UK plant.

Full Swindon Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Stoke-on-Trent

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

Browse Stoke-on-Trent Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Swindon

Browse live Swindon vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Swindon Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Stoke-on-Trent

£52,800 vs £27,500

Compare →

London vs Swindon

£52,800 vs £33,000

Compare →

Manchester vs Stoke-on-Trent

£36,500 vs £27,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Swindon

£36,500 vs £33,000

Compare →

Birmingham vs Stoke-on-Trent

£33,200 vs £27,500

Compare →

Edinburgh vs Stoke-on-Trent

£38,900 vs £27,500

Compare →

All City Comparisons →