Overview
Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port with a strong maritime economy and two major universities driving the knowledge economy.
The median salary in Southampton is £33,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 72/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £900/month, residents typically retain £24,800 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Southampton vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Southampton 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 Southampton
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Southampton Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £33,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 72/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £900/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £24,800/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 4% |
| Population | 262,000 |
Top Industries in Southampton
Maritime
Healthcare
Education
Finance
Tourism
Major Employers in Southampton
NHS
University of Southampton
Ordnance Survey
ABP Ports
Compare Southampton with Other Cities
Southampton vs London
£33,500 vs £52,800
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Southampton vs Manchester
£33,500 vs £36,500
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Southampton vs Birmingham
£33,500 vs £33,200
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Southampton vs Edinburgh
£33,500 vs £38,900
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Southampton vs Bristol
£33,500 vs £38,200
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Southampton vs Leeds
£33,500 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk