City Comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Chester 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%

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

Bristol

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

Best for Affordability

Chester

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

Chester

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 Chester

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 →

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 Bristol

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Chester

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£52,800 vs £38,200

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Manchester vs Chester

£36,500 vs £32,000

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Birmingham vs Bristol

£33,200 vs £38,200

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Birmingham vs Chester

£33,200 vs £32,000

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