Winner on purchasing power
York
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in York retains
£170/month more than in Exeter —
that's £2,040/year extra in purchasing power.
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£38,000
Net monthly
£2,573
Rent (1-bed)
£1,000
Rent-to-income
39% — Stretched
After rent
£1,573
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,693
Rent (1-bed)
£950
Rent-to-income
35% — Stretched
After rent
£1,743
Exeter vs York: what the £170/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Exeter accountant (qualified) roles pay £2,000/year
less than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Exeter workers keep £2,573/month versus
£2,693/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
York workers have £1,743/month
disposable income versus £1,573/month in Exeter —
that is £2,040/year in real spending power.
York's rent-to-income ratio of 35%
compares favourably to Exeter's 39%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Exeter |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,000 |
£950 |
-5% |
| Transport |
£68 |
£68 |
0% |
| Council tax |
£125 |
£120 |
-4% |
| Groceries |
£272 |
£270 |
-1% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£973 |
£1,150 |
+18% |
Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 70 for Exeter
and 68 for York,
a salary of £38,000 in Exeter delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £36,900 in York.
Exeter £38,000 ≈
£36,900
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
Cappuccino
Exeter
£2.66
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Exeter
£1.62
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Exeter
£39/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter
£11.20
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Exeter or York?
+
Exeter pays a median £38,000 vs £40,000 in York
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, York professionals
have £170/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Exeter vs York?
+
In Exeter: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
In York: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,573/month
vs York's £1,743/month.
What salary in York matches Exeter purchasing power?
+
Approximately £36,900 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£38,000 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of
70 (Exeter) vs 68 (York).
Is Exeter or York cheaper to live in?
+
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100).
Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Exeter?
+
A accountant (qualified) in Exeter earning £38,000 takes home
£2,573/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,000/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 39%
(stretched).
In York the equivalent ratio is 35%.