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City Comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Cheltenham 2026

South East England
Brighton
Median Salary £36,000
Cost of Living 80/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,200/mo
Real Take-Home £24,800/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
Unemployment 3.8%
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
Brighton
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
Brighton
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: Brighton vs Cheltenham

Brighton

Brighton is the UK's creative and digital capital outside London with a thriving startup scene and strong tourism economy.

Full Brighton 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 Brighton

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Cheltenham

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