City Comparison · 2026

Wolverhampton vs Ipswich 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%

East of England

Ipswich

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 66/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £770/mo

Real Take-Home £23,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Ipswich

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

Ipswich

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

Wolverhampton

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

Best Overall Value

Ipswich

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

Top Salaries: Wolverhampton vs Ipswich

Wolverhampton

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

Full Wolverhampton Guide →

Ipswich

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk with a strong financial services sector and major port driving logistics employment.

Full Ipswich Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Wolverhampton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Ipswich

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