City Comparison · 2026

Chelmsford vs Lancaster 2026

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%

Lancashire

Lancaster

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo

Real Take-Home £22,600/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 4.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Chelmsford

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

Best for Affordability

Lancaster

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

Highest Headline Salary

Chelmsford

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

Lowest Rent

Lancaster

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

Best for Career Growth

Chelmsford

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

Best Overall Value

Chelmsford

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

Top Salaries: Chelmsford vs Lancaster

Chelmsford

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

Full Chelmsford Guide →

Lancaster

Lancaster is a historic city with Lancaster University driving the knowledge economy and growing digital and healthcare sectors.

Full Lancaster Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Lancaster

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