Overview
Newcastle is the North East's economic hub with a thriving digital sector and the lowest cost of living of any major UK city.
The median salary in Newcastle is £29,800 per year. With a cost of living index of 61/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £680/month, residents typically retain £23,500 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Newcastle vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Newcastle 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 Newcastle
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Newcastle Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £29,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 61/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £680/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £23,500/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 300,000 |
Top Industries in Newcastle
Digital
Healthcare
Finance
Manufacturing
Education
Major Employers in Newcastle
NHS
Procter & Gamble
Sage
Newcastle University
Greggs
Compare Newcastle with Other Cities
Newcastle vs London
£29,800 vs £52,800
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Newcastle vs Manchester
£29,800 vs £36,500
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Newcastle vs Birmingham
£29,800 vs £33,200
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Newcastle vs Edinburgh
£29,800 vs £38,900
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Newcastle vs Bristol
£29,800 vs £38,200
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Newcastle vs Leeds
£29,800 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk