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City Comparison · 2026

Sunderland vs Exeter 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
South West England
Exeter
Median Salary £32,000
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £950/mo
Real Take-Home £23,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
Unemployment 3.5%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

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

Top Salaries: Sunderland vs Exeter

Sunderland

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

Full Sunderland Guide →

Exeter

Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK with a strong professional services and knowledge economy.

Full Exeter Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Sunderland

Browse live Sunderland vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Exeter

Browse live Exeter vacancies on Reed right now.

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