BRADFORD has been revealed as the number one city in the country pound-for-pound for university graduates to start their careers and working life.

The research, by Compare the Market, found that Bradford comes out above every other city in the country as the best value for money location for graduates.

It has created a new ‘Ultimate Graduate Index’ which compares a variety of factors integral to life for graduates to see which ones offer the best value for money.

These factors include job adverts, salaries, monthly rent prices, the cost of basic utilities and even the cost of a pint of beer.

The survey said: “Bradford is officially the best place for graduates to live.

“With the highest number of job opportunities out of all the top ten cities, as well as low rent prices, Bradford has a great balance between excellent opportunities and low expenses.”

It found that monthly average rent can cost as little as £384.38, far cheaper than in neighbouring Leeds where average rent is £528.85, and the survey adds that “buying a home becomes an achievable goal” in Bradford.

For monthly utilities the average in Bradford stands at £121 a month, £6 cheaper than in Leeds.

It also found that Bradford also has some of the cheapest gym memberships in the UK and in some pubs you can still buy a pint of beer for less than £3.

Coming after Bradford in the top five cities offering graduates the best value for money were Carlisle, Preston, Coventry and Newcastle.

At the other end of the scale were Cambridge, Oxford, Brighton and Bath, which were found to be the least affordable places graduates can choose to settle in.

As well as jobs, wages, rent, bills and booze, the index also looked at areas’ 18-30 year old populations and the cost of meals and coffee.

It follows the University of Bradford recently being ranked as the UK’s top university for social mobility, outperforming every other institution in improving students’ social standing.

It came top in the Higher Education Policy Institute’s Social Mobility Index, following work done using its Graduate and Internship Programme and Graduate Workforce Bradford to increase local employment opportunities for graduates, along with coaching workshops to make students more employable.

Within 15 months of graduations almost three-quarters are in employment, with 73 per cent of those in highly-skilled professional and managerial roles.

Nikki Pierce, academic registrar at the University of Bradford, said: “Delivering social mobility is a core part of our University strategy and something the university has been working really hard to support.

“To be recognised for this is really gratifying, and demonstrates the significant commitment we make to this and the fact we really have tried to make a difference to the lives of people in the region.

“It shows is the impact we’re having on students, many of whom come from deprived backgrounds and who might not have had opportunities to show their ability and yet, with the right support, they are able to achieve their full potential.”