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City Comparison · 2026

Chelmsford vs St Albans 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%
VS
South East England
St Albans
Median Salary £45,000
Cost of Living 90/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,500/mo
Real Take-Home £26,500/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.5%
Unemployment 2.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
St Albans
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Chelmsford
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
St Albans
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Chelmsford
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
St Albans
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
St Albans
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Chelmsford vs St Albans

Chelmsford

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

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St Albans

St Albans is one of the UK's most affluent towns with the highest average salaries outside London and very high living costs.

Full St Albans Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

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Jobs in St Albans

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