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City Comparison · 2026

Bath vs Cheltenham 2026

South West England
Bath
Median Salary £36,000
Cost of Living 82/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,200/mo
Real Take-Home £24,000/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4%
Unemployment 3%
VS
South West England
Cheltenham
Median Salary £34,000
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £25,100/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
Unemployment 3.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Cheltenham
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Cheltenham
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Bath
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Cheltenham
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Cheltenham
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Cheltenham
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Bath vs Cheltenham

Bath

Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage City with a thriving technology and creative sector anchored by the University of Bath.

Full Bath Guide →

Cheltenham

Cheltenham is home to GCHQ and has a strong cybersecurity and technology cluster making it one of the South West's highest earning cities.

Full Cheltenham Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Bath

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Cheltenham

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