Overview
Bradford has the youngest average population of any UK city with a growing creative and digital sector alongside traditional manufacturing.
The median salary in Bradford is £28,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 60/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £650/month, residents typically retain £22,800 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Bradford vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Bradford is highlighted.
London
100
Edinburgh
79
Bristol
78
Manchester
72
Leeds
70
Birmingham
68
Cardiff
66
Liverpool
65
Sheffield
63
Newcastle
61
Best Paying Jobs in Bradford
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Bradford Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £28,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 60/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £650/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,800/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 540,000 |
Top Industries in Bradford
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Retail
Education
Creative
Major Employers in Bradford
NHS
Bradford Council
University of Bradford
Yorkshire Building Society
Compare Bradford with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk