Overview
Luton is a major aviation hub with London Luton Airport driving significant logistics and hospitality employment.
The median salary in Luton is £31,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 75/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £1,000/month, residents typically retain £22,800 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Luton vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Luton 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 Luton
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Luton Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £31,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 75/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £1,000/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,800/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.8% |
| Population | 214,000 |
Top Industries in Luton
Aviation
Manufacturing
Logistics
Healthcare
Retail
Major Employers in Luton
London Luton Airport
NHS
Vauxhall
University of Bedfordshire
Compare Luton with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk