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City Comparison · 2026

Wolverhampton vs Derby 2026

West Midlands
Wolverhampton
Median Salary £28,800
Cost of Living 62/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £660/mo
Real Take-Home £22,600/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.4%
Unemployment 5.9%
VS
East Midlands
Derby
Median Salary £31,500
Cost of Living 65/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo
Real Take-Home £24,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.8%
Unemployment 4.8%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Derby
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Wolverhampton
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Derby
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Wolverhampton
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Derby
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Derby
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Wolverhampton vs Derby

Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton is a major West Midlands city with a strong manufacturing base and significant investment in regeneration.

Full Wolverhampton Guide →

Derby

Derby is a major aerospace and manufacturing hub. Rolls-Royce headquarters here makes it one of the UK's leading engineering cities.

Full Derby Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Wolverhampton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Derby

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