City Comparison · 2026

Gloucester vs Bath 2026

South West England

Gloucester

Median Salary £30,500

Cost of Living 68/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £800/mo

Real Take-Home £23,500/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 4.5%

South West England

Bath

Median Salary £36,000

Cost of Living 82/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,200/mo

Real Take-Home £24,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 4%

Unemployment 3%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Bath

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

Best for Affordability

Gloucester

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

Highest Headline Salary

Bath

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

Lowest Rent

Gloucester

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

Best for Career Growth

Bath

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

Best Overall Value

Bath

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

Top Salaries: Gloucester vs Bath

Gloucester

Gloucester is home to GCHQ and has a strong aerospace and defence cluster alongside growing financial services.

Full Gloucester Guide →

Bath

Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage City with a thriving technology and creative sector anchored by the University of Bath.

Full Bath Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Gloucester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Bath

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