City Comparison · 2026

Ipswich vs Chelmsford 2026

East of England

Ipswich

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 66/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £770/mo

Real Take-Home £23,000/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 4.5%

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

Ipswich

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

Ipswich

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: Ipswich vs Chelmsford

Ipswich

Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk with a strong financial services sector and major port driving logistics employment.

Full Ipswich Guide →

Chelmsford

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

Full Chelmsford Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Ipswich

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

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Manchester vs Chelmsford

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Birmingham vs Ipswich

£33,200 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Chelmsford

£33,200 vs £35,000

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