Accountant (Qualified) · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Leicester

Leicester wins on purchasing power. Leicester accountant (qualified)s have £490/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£43,000
£2,873/mo take-home
Leicester salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Leicester wins by
+£490
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leicester

After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Leicester retains £490/month more than in Bristol — that's £5,880/year extra in purchasing power.

+£490
per month
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £43,000
Net monthly £2,873
Rent (1-bed) £1,350
Rent-to-income 47% — High pressure
After rent £1,523
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,813
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 28% — Comfortable
After rent £2,013

Bristol vs Leicester: what the £490/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)

On paper, Bristol accountant (qualified) roles pay £1,000/year more than Leicester. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £2,873/month versus £2,813/month in Leicester.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £800/month in Leicester. Once housing costs are factored in, Leicester workers have £2,013/month disposable income versus £1,523/month in Bristol — that is £5,880/year in real spending power.

Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 28% compares favourably to Bristol's 47%.

For accountant (qualified)s prioritising financial freedom, Leicester delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Leicester Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £800 -41%
Transport £80 £62 -22%
Council tax £148 £118 -20%
Groceries £285 £258 -9%
Disposable income remaining £874 £1,442 +65%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 63 for Leicester, a salary of £43,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,100 in Leicester.

Bristol £43,000 ≈
£36,100
in Leicester

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 30%
Leicester 51%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Leicester £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Leicester £1.48
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Leicester £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Leicester £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Bristol or Leicester? +
Bristol pays a median £43,000 vs £42,000 in Leicester — a gross difference of £1,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals have £490/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Bristol vs Leicester? +
In Bristol: gross £43,000£2,873/month net take-home. In Leicester: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,523/month vs Leicester's £2,013/month.
What salary in Leicester matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £36,100 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £43,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 63 (Leicester).
Is Bristol or Leicester cheaper to live in? +
Leicester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Leicester.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Bristol? +
A accountant (qualified) in Bristol earning £43,000 takes home £2,873/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 47% (high pressure). In Leicester the equivalent ratio is 28%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Leicester

Afford Bristol on £45,000? Afford Leicester on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Leicester Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Bristol Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Leicester

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