Oxford vs Cambridge
Renting in Oxford costs £158/month more than Cambridge.
Rent comparison
Overall, renting in Cambridge is £158/month cheaper than Oxford - that's £1,896/year.
Source: ONS Price Index of Private Rents (PIPR)
Earnings comparison
Residents of Cambridge earn £2,194/year more than those in Oxford.
Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings
House prices comparison
House prices in Cambridge are £40,000 (9%) higher than in Oxford.
Over the last 10 years, house prices in Oxford have risen by 23.3%, compared to 16.7% in Cambridge.
Source: ONS / HM Land Registry
Council tax comparison
You would pay £211/year more in council tax (Band D) living in Oxford than in Cambridge.
| Band | Oxford | Cambridge | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,786 | £1,645 | Oxford +£141/yr |
| Band B | £2,083 | £1,919 | Oxford +£164/yr |
| Band C | £2,381 | £2,193 | Oxford +£188/yr |
| Band D Benchmark | £2,678 | £2,467 | Oxford +£211/yr |
| Band E | £3,274 | £3,015 | Oxford +£259/yr |
| Band F | £3,869 | £3,563 | Oxford +£306/yr |
| Band G | £4,464 | £4,112 | Oxford +£352/yr |
| Band H | £5,357 | £4,934 | Oxford +£423/yr |
Source: MHCLG / Scottish Government / Welsh Government
Band D is used as the standard benchmark for comparing council tax across areas. Other bands are set as fixed proportions of the Band D amount.
Energy comparison
| Measure | Oxford | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £1,723 | £1,723 |
| Monthly | £144 | £144 |
| Energy region | South East | Eastern |
Energy estimates are based on the Ofgem price cap, which is set nationally. Regional variation is small; we show the same headline figure across regions for transparency.
Source: Ofgem Energy Price Cap, Q4 2026
Water comparison
| Measure | Oxford | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|
| Annual | £720 | £684 |
| Monthly | £60 | £57 |
| Water company | Southern Water | Anglian Water |
Water in Oxford costs about £36/year more than in Cambridge.
Source: Water UK / Discover Water, 2026-27
Water company boundaries don't always align cleanly with local authority boundaries; the company shown here is the most common provider in each area.
Climate comparison
Oxford gets around 118mm more rainfall per year and 83 more hours of sunshine than Cambridge.
Source: Met Office HadUK-Grid, 1991-2020 averages. Crown copyright. Open Government Licence v3.0.
Crime comparison
Oxford has a higher crime rate than Cambridge, with 963 vs 914 recorded crimes per 10,000 people.
Source: Home Office / Scottish Government recorded crime
Recording practices vary between police forces. Crime rates reflect reported and recorded crime only.
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