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City Comparison · 2026

Sunderland vs Bolton 2026

North East England
Sunderland
Median Salary £27,800
Cost of Living 58/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £580/mo
Real Take-Home £22,600/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
Sunderland
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
Sunderland
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: Sunderland vs Bolton

Sunderland

Sunderland is home to Nissan's largest European plant and has a growing digital and technology sector driven by major investment.

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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 Sunderland

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Jobs in Bolton

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