City Comparison · 2026

Sheffield vs Chester 2026

South Yorkshire

Sheffield

Median Salary £30,800

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 4.9%

Cheshire

Chester

Median Salary £32,000

Cost of Living 70/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £850/mo

Real Take-Home £24,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.8%

Unemployment 3.5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Sheffield

Best take-home pay after accounting for rent and cost of living.

Best for Affordability

Sheffield

Lower cost of living index means your money goes further every day.

Highest Headline Salary

Chester

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

Lowest Rent

Sheffield

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

Best for Career Growth

Chester

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

Best Overall Value

Sheffield

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

Top Salaries: Sheffield vs Chester

Sheffield

Sheffield has transformed from a steel city into a centre for advanced manufacturing and digital with very affordable living costs.

Full Sheffield Guide →

Chester

Chester is a historic Roman city with a strong financial services and tourism sector. MBNA is one of the largest private sector employers.

Full Chester Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Sheffield

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Jobs in Chester

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£36,500 vs £30,800

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Manchester vs Chester

£36,500 vs £32,000

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Birmingham vs Sheffield

£33,200 vs £30,800

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Birmingham vs Chester

£33,200 vs £32,000

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