Overview
Leicester is one of the UK's most diverse cities with a strong manufacturing base and growing retail and education sectors.
The median salary in Leicester is £30,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 65/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £730/month, residents typically retain £23,900 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Leicester vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Leicester 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 Leicester
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Leicester Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £30,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 65/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £730/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £23,900/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.6% |
| Population | 368,000 |
Top Industries in Leicester
Manufacturing
Retail
Healthcare
Education
Food Production
Major Employers in Leicester
NHS
Next
Walkers Crisps
University of Leicester
De Montfort University
Compare Leicester with Other Cities
Leicester vs London
£30,500 vs £52,800
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Leicester vs Manchester
£30,500 vs £36,500
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Leicester vs Birmingham
£30,500 vs £33,200
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Leicester vs Edinburgh
£30,500 vs £38,900
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Leicester vs Bristol
£30,500 vs £38,200
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Leicester vs Leeds
£30,500 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk