Overview
Lancaster is a historic city with Lancaster University driving the knowledge economy and growing digital and healthcare sectors.
The median salary in Lancaster is £28,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 63/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £700/month, residents typically retain £22,600 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Lancaster vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Lancaster 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 Lancaster
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Lancaster Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £28,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 63/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £700/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,600/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 52,000 |
Top Industries in Lancaster
Healthcare
Education
Public Sector
Tourism
Agriculture
Major Employers in Lancaster
NHS
Lancaster University
Storeys of Lancaster
Lancaster City Council
Compare Lancaster with Other Cities
Lancaster vs London
£28,500 vs £52,800
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Lancaster vs Manchester
£28,500 vs £36,500
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Lancaster vs Birmingham
£28,500 vs £33,200
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Lancaster vs Edinburgh
£28,500 vs £38,900
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Lancaster vs Bristol
£28,500 vs £38,200
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Lancaster vs Leeds
£28,500 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk