City Comparison · 2026

Swansea vs Chelmsford 2026

Wales

Swansea

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £700/mo

Real Take-Home £23,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 5%

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

Chelmsford

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

Best for Affordability

Swansea

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

Highest Headline Salary

Chelmsford

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

Lowest Rent

Swansea

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

Best for Career Growth

Chelmsford

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

Best Overall Value

Chelmsford

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

Top Salaries: Swansea vs Chelmsford

Swansea

Swansea is Wales's second city with a growing technology sector driven by Swansea University and major digital employers.

Full Swansea Guide →

Chelmsford

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

Full Chelmsford Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Swansea

Browse live Swansea vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Swansea Jobs →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Chelmsford

Browse live Chelmsford vacancies on Reed right now.

Browse Chelmsford Jobs →

More Comparisons

London vs Swansea

£52,800 vs £29,500

Compare →

London vs Chelmsford

£52,800 vs £35,000

Compare →

Manchester vs Swansea

£36,500 vs £29,500

Compare →

Manchester vs Chelmsford

£36,500 vs £35,000

Compare →

Birmingham vs Swansea

£33,200 vs £29,500

Compare →

Birmingham vs Chelmsford

£33,200 vs £35,000

Compare →

All City Comparisons →