Edinburgh vs Leeds
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds accountant (qualified)s have £211/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Leeds retains £211/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £2,532/year extra in purchasing power.
Edinburgh vs Leeds: what the £211/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Edinburgh accountant (qualified) roles pay £0/year more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,802/month versus £2,813/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £1,913/month disposable income versus £1,702/month in Edinburgh — that is £2,532/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 39%.
For accountant (qualified)s prioritising financial freedom, Leeds delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 66 for Leeds, a salary of £42,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,500 in Leeds.
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
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