Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Leeds retains
£190/month more than in Nottingham —
that's £2,280/year extra in purchasing power.
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£42,000
Net monthly
£2,813
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
32% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,913
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£38,000
Net monthly
£2,573
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,723
Leeds vs Nottingham: what the £190/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Leeds accountant (qualified) roles pay £4,000/year
more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Leeds workers keep £2,813/month versus
£2,573/month in Nottingham.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month
versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £1,913/month
disposable income versus £1,723/month in Nottingham —
that is £2,280/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 32%
compares favourably to Nottingham's 33%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Leeds |
Nottingham |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£850 |
-6% |
| Transport |
£65 |
£58 |
-11% |
| Council tax |
£112 |
£118 |
+5% |
| Groceries |
£270 |
£260 |
-4% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,331 |
£1,154 |
-13% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds
and 63 for Nottingham,
a salary of £42,000 in Leeds delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £40,100 in Nottingham.
Leeds £42,000 ≈
£40,100
in Nottingham
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
Leeds
£2.51
Nottingham
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
Nottingham
£1.38
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
Nottingham
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
Nottingham
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Leeds or Nottingham?
+
Leeds pays a median £42,000 vs £38,000 in Nottingham
— a gross difference of £4,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £190/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Leeds vs Nottingham?
+
In Leeds: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
In Nottingham: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £1,913/month
vs Nottingham's £1,723/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Leeds purchasing power?
+
Approximately £40,100 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£42,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Leeds or Nottingham cheaper to live in?
+
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 66 for Leeds (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Leeds?
+
A accountant (qualified) in Leeds earning £42,000 takes home
£2,813/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 32%
(comfortable).
In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 33%.