Accountant (Qualified) · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Sheffield

Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield accountant (qualified)s have £56/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£42,000
£2,802/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£39,000
£2,633/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£56
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield

After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Sheffield retains £56/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £672/year extra in purchasing power.

+£56
per month
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,802
Rent (1-bed) £1,050
Rent-to-income 37% — Stretched
After rent £1,752
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £39,000
Net monthly £2,633
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £1,808

Aberdeen vs Sheffield: what the £56/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)

On paper, Aberdeen accountant (qualified) roles pay £3,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,802/month versus £2,633/month in Sheffield.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Sheffield workers have £1,808/month disposable income versus £1,752/month in Aberdeen — that is £672/year in real spending power.

Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 31% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 37%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £825 -21%
Transport £60 £65 +8%
Council tax £148 £126 -15%
Groceries £285 £265 -7%
Disposable income remaining £1,119 £1,218 +9%

Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £42,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,250 in Sheffield.

Aberdeen £42,000 ≈
£36,250
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Aberdeen 40%
Sheffield 46%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Sheffield £10.08

Financial tools

Popular products for UK earners

Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now

Frequently asked questions

Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Aberdeen or Sheffield? +
Aberdeen pays a median £42,000 vs £39,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals have £56/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Aberdeen vs Sheffield? +
In Aberdeen: gross £42,000£2,802/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £39,000£2,633/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £1,752/month vs Sheffield's £1,808/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £36,250 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Aberdeen or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 73 for Aberdeen (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Aberdeen? +
A accountant (qualified) in Aberdeen earning £42,000 takes home £2,802/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 37% (stretched). In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Sheffield

Afford Aberdeen on £40,000? Afford Sheffield on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Aberdeen → Sheffield Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Aberdeen Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Sheffield

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge