Home / Compare / Reading vs Chelmsford
City Comparison · 2026

Reading vs Chelmsford 2026

South East England
Reading
Median Salary £42,000
Cost of Living 85/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £1,300/mo
Real Take-Home £27,200/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.8%
Unemployment 3%
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
Reading
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Chelmsford
Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.
Highest Headline Salary
Reading
Higher median salary before cost of living is taken into account.
Lowest Rent
Chelmsford
More affordable average rents leave more of your salary in your pocket.
Best for Career Growth
Reading
Higher job growth rate and more active job market for ambitious professionals.
Best Overall Value
Reading
When salary, cost of living and rent are all considered together.

Top Salaries: Reading vs Chelmsford

Reading

Reading is the UK's Silicon Valley with major tech company headquarters and above-average salaries driven by its proximity to London.

Full Reading Guide →

Chelmsford

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

Full Chelmsford Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Reading

Browse live Reading vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Reading Jobs →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

Browse live Chelmsford vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Chelmsford Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Reading
£52,800 vs £42,000
Compare →
London vs Chelmsford
£52,800 vs £35,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Reading
£36,500 vs £42,000
Compare →
Manchester vs Chelmsford
£36,500 vs £35,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Reading
£33,200 vs £42,000
Compare →
Birmingham vs Chelmsford
£33,200 vs £35,000
Compare →
All City Comparisons →
Scroll to Top