Accountant (Qualified) · City comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Liverpool

Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge accountant (qualified)s have £2/month more disposable income after rent than their Liverpool counterparts.

Cambridge salary
£57,000
£3,635/mo take-home
Liverpool salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Cambridge wins by
+£2
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge

After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Cambridge retains £2/month more than in Liverpool — that's £24/year extra in purchasing power.

+£2
per month
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £57,000
Net monthly £3,635
Rent (1-bed) £1,500
Rent-to-income 41% — Stretched
After rent £2,135
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £44,000
Net monthly £2,933
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 27% — Comfortable
After rent £2,133

Cambridge vs Liverpool: what the £2/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)

On paper, Cambridge accountant (qualified) roles pay £13,000/year more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,635/month versus £2,933/month in Liverpool.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,135/month disposable income versus £2,133/month in Liverpool — that is £24/year in real spending power.

Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 41% compares favourably to Liverpool's 27%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cambridge Liverpool Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,500 £800 -47%
Transport £75 £70 -7%
Council tax £155 £115 -26%
Groceries £300 £260 -13%
Disposable income remaining £1,465 £1,555 +6%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge and 62 for Liverpool, a salary of £57,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,600 in Liverpool.

Cambridge £57,000 ≈
£40,600
in Liverpool

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cambridge 40%
Liverpool 53%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cambridge £3.31
Liverpool £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge £1.79
Liverpool £1.67
Gym membership
Cambridge £48/mo
Liverpool £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge £13.92
Liverpool £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Cambridge or Liverpool? +
Cambridge pays a median £57,000 vs £44,000 in Liverpool — a gross difference of £13,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals have £2/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Cambridge vs Liverpool? +
In Cambridge: gross £57,000£3,635/month net take-home. In Liverpool: gross £44,000£2,933/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,135/month vs Liverpool's £2,133/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Cambridge purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,600 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £57,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of 87 (Cambridge) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Cambridge or Liverpool cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100). Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Cambridge? +
A accountant (qualified) in Cambridge earning £57,000 takes home £3,635/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,500/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 41% (stretched). In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 27%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cambridge and Liverpool

Afford Cambridge on £55,000? Afford Liverpool on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Cambridge → Liverpool Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Cambridge Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Liverpool

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