Overview
Wigan is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing and logistics sectors and very affordable living costs.
The median salary in Wigan is £28,000 per year. With a cost of living index of 61/100 (London = 100) and average rents of £620/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: Wigan vs UK Cities
Cost of living index where London = 100. Lower score = more affordable. Wigan 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 Wigan
Full city salary breakdown coming soon. Browse all UK salary guides →
Wigan Job Market at a Glance
| Median Annual Salary | £28,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 61/100 |
| Average Rent (1 bed) | £620/mo |
| Real Take-Home After Rent | £22,400/yr |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% |
| Job Growth (YoY) | ↑ 3.2% |
| Population | 323,000 |
Top Industries in Wigan
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Retail
Public Sector
Logistics
Major Employers in Wigan
NHS
Wigan Council
DW Sports
JJB Sports
Compare Wigan with Other Cities
Data Sources
ONS Regional Stats 2026
HMRC PAYE Data
Rightmove Rental Index
Numbeo UK
Reed.co.uk