City Comparison · 2026

Chester vs Wrexham 2026

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%

Wales

Wrexham

Median Salary £27,500

Cost of Living 62/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £650/mo

Real Take-Home £21,900/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 5.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Chester

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

Best for Affordability

Wrexham

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

Highest Headline Salary

Chester

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

Lowest Rent

Wrexham

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

Best for Career Growth

Chester

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

Best Overall Value

Chester

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

Top Salaries: Chester vs Wrexham

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 →

Wrexham

Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales with a growing manufacturing sector boosted by significant inward investment.

Full Wrexham Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Chester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Wrexham

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