City Comparison · 2026

Exeter vs Colchester 2026

South West England

Exeter

Median Salary £32,000

Cost of Living 72/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £950/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4.2%

Unemployment 3.5%

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%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Exeter

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

Exeter

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

Exeter

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

Best Overall Value

Exeter

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

Top Salaries: Exeter vs Colchester

Exeter

Exeter is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK with a strong professional services and knowledge economy.

Full Exeter Guide →

Colchester

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

Full Colchester Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Exeter

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Colchester

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