Overview
Sunderland is home to Nissan's largest European plant and has a growing digital and technology sector driven by major investment.
The median salary in Sunderland is £27,800 per year. With a cost of living index of 58/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £580/month, residents typically retain £22,600 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Sunderland vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Sunderland 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 Sunderland
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Sunderland Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £27,800 |
| Cost of Living Index | 58/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £580/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,600/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3% |
| Population | 297,000 |
Top Industries in Sunderland
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Automotive
Digital
Retail
Major Employers in Sunderland
NHS
Nissan
Sunderland AFC
University of Sunderland
Compare Sunderland with Other Cities
Sunderland vs London
£27,800 vs £52,800
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Sunderland vs Manchester
£27,800 vs £36,500
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Sunderland vs Birmingham
£27,800 vs £33,200
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Sunderland vs Edinburgh
£27,800 vs £38,900
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Sunderland vs Bristol
£27,800 vs £38,200
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Sunderland vs Leeds
£27,800 vs £34,800
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Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk