Overview
Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.
The median salary in Swansea is £29,500 per year. With a cost of living index of 63/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £700/month, residents typically retain £23,200 per year in real spending power after rent — an important figure that headline salaries don't reveal.
Cost of Living: Swansea vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Swansea 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 Swansea
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Swansea Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £29,500 |
| Cost of Living Index | 63/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £700/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £23,200/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.5% |
| Population | 246,000 |
Top Industries in Swansea
Healthcare
Education
Retail
Public Sector
Tourism
Major Employers in Swansea
NHS Wales
Swansea University
DVLA
Amazon
Admiral
Compare Swansea with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk