Overview
Oxford combines world-class academia with a growing biomedical and technology cluster. Very high cost of living relative to salary.
The median salary in Oxford is £40,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 90/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £1,400/month, residents typically retain £25,000 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Oxford vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Oxford 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 Oxford
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Oxford Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £40,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 90/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £1,400/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £25,000/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4.5% |
| Population | 162,000 |
Top Industries in Oxford
Education
Biomedical
Technology
Publishing
Tourism
Major Employers in Oxford
University of Oxford
NHS
BMW MINI
Oxford Brookes University
Compare Oxford with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk