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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Oxford quality of life score: 58/100 (United Kingdom avg: 60/100). Combines safety (70), healthcare (84), walkability (85), air quality (AQI 26) and green space (28%). Compared to South East peers in 2026.
Oxford quality of life score: 58/100 (United Kingdom avg: 60/100). Combines safety (70), healthcare (84), walkability (85), air quality (AQI 26) and green space (28%). Compared to South East peers in 2026.
Oxford: cost index 132 (+29 vs national avg 103), rent £1,500/month.
South East region average cost index: 123. Oxford is +9 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 58/100 — safety 70, healthcare 84, walkability 85.
Safety score: 70/100 (crime rate 55.2/1k). National average: 61/100.
Here's where the conversation shifts from 'affordable' to 'strategic': Oxford has a cost index of 132 — 29 points above the United Kingdom national average of 103. Median income is £39,000 with rent at £1,500/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 46%. Over a five-year window, that difference is life-changing.
But here's the flip side: looking at South East as a whole, the spread across all 4 cities is 19 points on the cost index. Southampton sits at the other end with index 113 and rent of £1,130/mo. That's a strong position by any measure.
On quality of life, Oxford scores a composite score of 58/100 — reflecting its safety (70), healthcare (84), and walkability (85) metrics. Pair that with the housing data, and the pattern sharpens. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and United Kingdom is a good example of that tension.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxford | 132 | £1,500 | £39,000 |
| 2 | Brighton | 122 | £1,350 | £37,000 |
| 3 | Reading | 124 | £1,300 | £40,000 |
| 4 | Southampton | 113 | £1,130 | £35,200 |
Oxford — cost index 132, rent £1,500/mo, income £39,000, QoL 58/100.
Brighton — cost index 122, rent £1,350/mo, income £37,000, QoL 57/100.
Reading — cost index 124, rent £1,300/mo, income £40,000, QoL 56/100.
Southampton — cost index 113, rent £1,130/mo, income £35,200, QoL 56/100.
Oxford has a composite quality of life score of 58/100, covering safety (70), healthcare (84), walkability (85), air quality, and green space. United Kingdom average QoL: 60/100.
The South East region of average QoL score is 57/100. Oxford leads with 58/100, reflecting safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include ONS, Land Registry, HMRC.
Oxford: cost index 132, rent £1,500/mo, income £39,000/yr, QoL 58/100. Brighton: cost index 122, rent £1,350/mo, income £37,000/yr, QoL 57/100.
This analysis uses data from ONS, Land Registry, HMRC to rank cities in United Kingdom. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.