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City Comparison · 2026

Colchester vs Chelmsford 2026

East of England
Colchester
Median Salary £30,000
Cost of Living 68/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo
Real Take-Home £23,000/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.5%
Unemployment 4.2%
VS
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%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Chelmsford
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Colchester
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
Colchester
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: Colchester vs Chelmsford

Colchester

Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town with a major Army garrison and growing university driving knowledge economy growth.

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Chelmsford

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

Full Chelmsford Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Colchester

Browse live Colchester vacancies on Reed right now.

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

Browse live Chelmsford vacancies on Reed right now.

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