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City Comparison · 2026

Reading vs Cheltenham 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
South West England
Cheltenham
Median Salary £34,000
Cost of Living 72/100
Avg Rent (1 bed) £900/mo
Real Take-Home £25,100/yr
Job Growth ↑ 4.2%
Unemployment 3.2%
Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary
Reading
Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.
Best for Affordability
Cheltenham
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
Cheltenham
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 Cheltenham

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 →

Cheltenham

Cheltenham is home to GCHQ and has a strong cybersecurity and technology cluster making it one of the South West's highest earning cities.

Full Cheltenham Guide →
Live Jobs

Jobs in Reading

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Cheltenham

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