Overview
Plymouth is a major naval base and maritime city with strong defence industry employment and a growing digital sector.
The median salary in Plymouth is £28,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 65/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £750/month, residents typically retain £22,400 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Plymouth vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Plymouth 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 Plymouth
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Plymouth Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £28,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 65/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £750/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,400/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 264,000 |
Top Industries in Plymouth
Defence
Maritime
Healthcare
Education
Tourism
Major Employers in Plymouth
Royal Navy
NHS
University of Plymouth
Princess Yachts
Compare Plymouth with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk