City Comparison · 2026

Bolton vs Wrexham 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%

Wales

Wrexham

Median Salary £27,500

Cost of Living 62/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £650/mo

Real Take-Home £21,900/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 5.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bolton

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

Best for Affordability

Wrexham

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

Highest Headline Salary

Bolton

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

Lowest Rent

Wrexham

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

Best for Career Growth

Bolton

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

Best Overall Value

Bolton

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

Top Salaries: Bolton vs Wrexham

Bolton

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

Full Bolton Guide →

Wrexham

Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales with a growing manufacturing sector boosted by significant inward investment.

Full Wrexham Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bolton

Browse live Bolton vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Bolton Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Wrexham

Browse live Wrexham vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Wrexham Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Bolton

£52,800 vs £29,500

Compare →

London vs Wrexham

£52,800 vs £27,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Bolton

£36,500 vs £29,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Wrexham

£36,500 vs £27,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Bolton

£33,200 vs £29,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Wrexham

£33,200 vs £27,500

Compare →

All City Comparisons →