Overview
Swindon is home to Nationwide Building Society headquarters and has a strong manufacturing base including Honda's UK plant.
The median salary in Swindon is £33,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 70/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £850/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: Swindon vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Swindon 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 Swindon
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Swindon Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £33,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 70/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £850/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £25,000/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.8% |
| Population | 230,000 |
Top Industries in Swindon
Financial Services
Manufacturing
Technology
Retail
Healthcare
Major Employers in Swindon
NHS
Intel
Honda UK
Nationwide Building Society
WH Smith
Compare Swindon with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk