City Comparison · 2026

Portsmouth vs Colchester 2026

South East England

Portsmouth

Median Salary £31,500

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £23,800/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.6%

Unemployment 4.5%

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

Portsmouth

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

Portsmouth

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

Lowest Rent

Portsmouth

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

Best for Career Growth

Portsmouth

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

Best Overall Value

Portsmouth

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

Top Salaries: Portsmouth vs Colchester

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a major naval base and maritime city with significant defence industry employment and two universities.

Full Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Colchester

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