City Comparison · 2026

York vs Preston 2026

North Yorkshire

York

Median Salary £31,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo

Real Take-Home £23,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.5%

Lancashire

Preston

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo

Real Take-Home £23,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 5.2%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

York

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Preston

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

York

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Preston

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

York

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

Best Overall Value

York

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

Top Salaries: York vs Preston

York

York is a historic city with a strong professional services and financial sector alongside significant tourism and chocolate manufacturing heritage.

Full York Guide →

Preston

Preston is a major Lancashire city with significant aerospace and manufacturing employment driven by BAE Systems.

Full Preston Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in York

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Jobs in Preston

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£52,800 vs £31,000

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Manchester vs York

£36,500 vs £31,000

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Manchester vs Preston

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs York

£33,200 vs £31,000

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Birmingham vs Preston

£33,200 vs £29,500

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