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City Comparison · 2026

Derby vs Chester 2026

East Midlands
Derby
Median Salary £31,500
Cost of Living 65/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £730/mo
Real Take-Home £24,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.8%
Unemployment 4.8%
VS
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%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Derby
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Derby
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
Derby
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Derby
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Derby
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Derby vs Chester

Derby

Derby is a major aerospace and manufacturing hub. Rolls-Royce headquarters here makes it one of the UK's leading engineering cities.

Full Derby Guide →

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 →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Derby

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Chester

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