City Comparison · 2026

Bolton vs Chester 2026

Greater Manchester

Bolton

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo

Real Take-Home £23,100/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 5%

Cheshire

Chester

Median Salary £32,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Chester

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Bolton

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Chester

Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.

Lowest Rent

Bolton

More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.

Best for Career Growth

Chester

Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.

Best Overall Value

Chester

When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Bolton vs Chester

Bolton

Bolton is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing roots and growing digital and professional services sectors.

Full Bolton Guide →

Chester

Chester is a historic Roman city with a strong financial services and tourism sector. MBNA is one of the largest private sector employers.

Full Chester Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bolton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Chester

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£52,800 vs £29,500

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£36,500 vs £29,500

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Manchester vs Chester

£36,500 vs £32,000

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Birmingham vs Bolton

£33,200 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Chester

£33,200 vs £32,000

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