City Comparison · 2026

Shrewsbury vs Colchester 2026

West Midlands

Shrewsbury

Median Salary £28,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £720/mo

Real Take-Home £22,400/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3%

Unemployment 3.8%

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

Colchester

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

Best for Affordability

Shrewsbury

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

Highest Headline Salary

Colchester

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

Lowest Rent

Shrewsbury

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

Best for Career Growth

Colchester

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

Best Overall Value

Colchester

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

Top Salaries: Shrewsbury vs Colchester

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire with a strong public sector and growing tourism economy.

Full Shrewsbury 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 Shrewsbury

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Colchester

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