Overview
Dundee is Scotland's digital games capital and has one of the UK's fastest growing life sciences sectors anchored by the University of Dundee.
The median salary in Dundee is £32,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 66/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £750/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: Dundee vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Dundee 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 Dundee
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Dundee Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 66/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £750/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,800/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4.5% |
| Population | 150,000 |
Top Industries in Dundee
Gaming
Healthcare
Education
Life Sciences
Creative
Major Employers in Dundee
NHS Scotland
University of Dundee
Abertay University
DC Thomson
Compare Dundee with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk