City Comparison · 2026

York vs Wigan 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%

Greater Manchester

Wigan

Median Salary £28,000

Cost of Living 61/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £620/mo

Real Take-Home £22,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

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

Wigan

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

Wigan

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 Wigan

York

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

Full York Guide →

Wigan

Wigan is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing and logistics sectors and very affordable living costs.

Full Wigan Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in York

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Jobs in Wigan

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£52,800 vs £31,000

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£36,500 vs £31,000

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