Overview
Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk with a strong financial services sector and major port driving logistics employment.
The median salary in Ipswich is £29,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 66/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £770/month, residents typically retain £23,000 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Ipswich vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Ipswich 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 Ipswich
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Ipswich Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £29,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 66/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £770/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £23,000/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 133,000 |
Top Industries in Ipswich
Financial Services
Port & Logistics
Healthcare
Retail
Agriculture
Major Employers in Ipswich
NHS
Willis Towers Watson
BT
Haven Power
University of Suffolk
Compare Ipswich with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk