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City Comparison · 2026

Chelmsford vs Swindon 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 West England
Swindon
Median Salary £33,000
Cost of Living 70/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo
Real Take-Home £25,000/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.8%
Unemployment 3.8%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Swindon
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Swindon
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
Swindon
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
Swindon
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Chelmsford vs Swindon

Chelmsford

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

Full Chelmsford Guide →

Swindon

Swindon is home to Nationwide Building Society headquarters and has a strong manufacturing base including Honda's UK plant.

Full Swindon Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

Browse live Chelmsford vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Swindon

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