City Comparison · 2026

Worcester vs Bolton 2026

West Midlands

Worcester

Median Salary £30,000

Cost of Living 67/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £780/mo

Real Take-Home £23,200/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.5%

Unemployment 4.2%

Greater Manchester

Bolton

Median Salary £29,500

Cost of Living 63/100

Avg Rent (1 bed) £680/mo

Real Take-Home £23,100/yr

Job Growth ↑ 3.2%

Unemployment 5%

Verdict

Which City Wins?

Best Real-Terms Salary

Worcester

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

Best for Affordability

Bolton

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

Highest Headline Salary

Worcester

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

Lowest Rent

Bolton

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

Best for Career Growth

Worcester

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

Best Overall Value

Worcester

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

Top Salaries: Worcester vs Bolton

Worcester

Worcester is a historic cathedral city with a strong manufacturing base and growing professional services sector.

Full Worcester Guide →

Bolton

Bolton is a major town in Greater Manchester with strong manufacturing roots and growing digital and professional services sectors.

Full Bolton Guide →

Live Jobs

Jobs in Worcester

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Live Jobs

Jobs in Bolton

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More Comparisons

London vs Worcester

£52,800 vs £30,000

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London vs Bolton

£52,800 vs £29,500

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Manchester vs Worcester

£36,500 vs £30,000

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Manchester vs Bolton

£36,500 vs £29,500

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Birmingham vs Worcester

£33,200 vs £30,000

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Birmingham vs Bolton

£33,200 vs £29,500

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All City Comparisons →