Home / Compare / Nottingham vs Chelmsford
City Comparison · 2026

Nottingham vs Chelmsford 2026

East Midlands
Nottingham
Median Salary £30,200
Cost of Living 64/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £720/mo
Real Take-Home £23,700/yr
Job Growth ↑ 3.4%
Unemployment 5.2%
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
Nottingham
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
Nottingham
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: Nottingham vs Chelmsford

Nottingham

Nottingham is a major retail and education centre in the East Midlands with growing bioscience and digital sectors.

Full Nottingham Guide →

Chelmsford

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

Full Chelmsford Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Nottingham

Browse live Nottingham vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Nottingham Jobs →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

Browse live Chelmsford vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Chelmsford Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Nottingham
£52,800 vs £30,200
Compare →
London vs Chelmsford
£52,800 vs £35,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Nottingham
£36,500 vs £30,200
Compare →
Manchester vs Chelmsford
£36,500 vs £35,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Nottingham
£33,200 vs £30,200
Compare →
Birmingham vs Chelmsford
£33,200 vs £35,000
Compare →
All City Comparisons →
Scroll to Top