Edinburgh vs York
York wins on purchasing power. York accountant (qualified)s have £41/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in York retains £41/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £492/year extra in purchasing power.
Edinburgh vs York: what the £41/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Edinburgh accountant (qualified) roles pay £2,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,802/month versus £2,693/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, York workers have £1,743/month disposable income versus £1,702/month in Edinburgh — that is £492/year in real spending power.
York's rent-to-income ratio of 35% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 39%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 68 for York, a salary of £42,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £39,650 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
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