City Comparison · 2026

Sunderland vs Milton Keynes 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%

South East England

Milton Keynes

Median Salary £38,500

Cost of Living 78/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,100/mo

Real Take-Home £26,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 5.5%

Unemployment 3.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Milton Keynes

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

Milton Keynes

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

Milton Keynes

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

Best Overall Value

Milton Keynes

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

Top Salaries: Sunderland vs Milton Keynes

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 →

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes is one of the UK's fastest growing cities with a strong business services and technology sector.

Full Milton Keynes Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Sunderland

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Jobs in Milton Keynes

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