Overview
Brighton is the UK's creative and digital capital outside London with a thriving startup scene and strong tourism economy.
The median salary in Brighton is £36,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 80/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £1,200/month, residents typically retain £24,800 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Brighton vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Brighton 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 Brighton
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Brighton Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £36,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 80/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £1,200/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,800/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4.2% |
| Population | 290,000 |
Top Industries in Brighton
Creative
Digital
Tourism
Education
Retail
Major Employers in Brighton
NHS
University of Brighton
University of Sussex
American Express
Compare Brighton with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk