Bristol vs London
London wins on purchasing power. London accountant (qualified)s have £10/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in London retains £10/month more than in Bristol — that's £120/year extra in purchasing power.
Bristol vs London: what the £10/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Bristol accountant (qualified) roles pay £15,000/year less than London. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £2,873/month versus £3,683/month in London.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £2,150/month in London. Once housing costs are factored in, London workers have £1,533/month disposable income versus £1,523/month in Bristol — that is £120/year in real spending power.
London's rent-to-income ratio of 58% compares favourably to Bristol's 47%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 100 for London, a salary of £43,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £57,350 in London.
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners