City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Chelmsford 2026

South West England

Bristol

Median Salary £38,200

Cost of Living 78/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,100/mo

Real Take-Home £26,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 5.1%

Unemployment 3.5%

East of England

Chelmsford

Median Salary £35,000

Cost of Living 78/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,100/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Bristol

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

Highest Headline Salary

Bristol

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

Lowest Rent

Bristol

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

Best for Career Growth

Bristol

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

Best Overall Value

Bristol

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

Top Salaries: Bristol vs Chelmsford

Bristol

Bristol consistently ranks as one of the UK's best cities for quality of life with above-average salaries and a booming tech sector.

Full Bristol Guide →

Chelmsford

Chelmsford is a major commuter city for London with strong professional services and technology sectors.

Full Chelmsford Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

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Manchester vs Chelmsford

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Chelmsford

£33,200 vs £35,000

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