Winner on purchasing power
York
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in York retains
£90/month more than in Brighton —
that's £1,080/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£46,000
Net monthly
£3,053
Rent (1-bed)
£1,400
Rent-to-income
46% — High pressure
After rent
£1,653
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,693
Rent (1-bed)
£950
Rent-to-income
35% — Stretched
After rent
£1,743
Brighton vs York: what the £90/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Brighton accountant (qualified) roles pay £6,000/year
more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £3,053/month versus
£2,693/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
York workers have £1,743/month
disposable income versus £1,653/month in Brighton —
that is £1,080/year in real spending power.
York's rent-to-income ratio of 35%
compares favourably to Brighton's 46%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Brighton |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,400 |
£950 |
-32% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£68 |
-15% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£120 |
-23% |
| Groceries |
£295 |
£270 |
-8% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£983 |
£1,150 |
+17% |
Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton
and 68 for York,
a salary of £46,000 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £38,150 in York.
Brighton £46,000 ≈
£38,150
in York
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Brighton
£3.12
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Brighton
£1.90
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Brighton
£45/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton
£13.12
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Brighton or York?
+
Brighton pays a median £46,000 vs £40,000 in York
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, York professionals
have £90/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Brighton vs York?
+
In Brighton: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home.
In York: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £1,653/month
vs York's £1,743/month.
What salary in York matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £38,150 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£46,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of
82 (Brighton) vs 68 (York).
Is Brighton or York cheaper to live in?
+
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100).
Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Brighton?
+
A accountant (qualified) in Brighton earning £46,000 takes home
£3,053/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 46%
(high pressure).
In York the equivalent ratio is 35%.