Overview
Derry is Northern Ireland's second city with growing technology and education sectors.
The median salary in Derry is £27,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 60/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £600/month, residents typically retain £22,400 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Derry vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Derry 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 Derry
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Derry Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £27,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 60/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £600/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,400/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 107,000 |
Top Industries in Derry
Healthcare
Education
Retail
Public Sector
Manufacturing
Major Employers in Derry
NHS
Derry City Council
Seagate
University of Ulster
Compare Derry with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk