Accountant (Qualified) · City comparison · 2026

Leicester vs Sheffield

Leicester wins on purchasing power. Leicester accountant (qualified)s have £205/month more disposable income after rent than their Sheffield counterparts.

Leicester salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£39,000
£2,633/mo take-home
Leicester wins by
+£205
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leicester

After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Leicester retains £205/month more than in Sheffield — that's £2,460/year extra in purchasing power.

+£205
per month
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,813
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 28% — Comfortable
After rent £2,013
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £39,000
Net monthly £2,633
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £1,808

Leicester vs Sheffield: what the £205/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)

On paper, Leicester accountant (qualified) roles pay £3,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leicester workers keep £2,813/month versus £2,633/month in Sheffield.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leicester rent runs £800/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Leicester workers have £2,013/month disposable income versus £1,808/month in Sheffield — that is £2,460/year in real spending power.

Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 28% compares favourably to Sheffield's 31%.

For accountant (qualified)s prioritising financial freedom, Leicester delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Leicester Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £825 +3%
Transport £62 £65 +5%
Council tax £118 £126 +7%
Groceries £258 £265 +3%
Disposable income remaining £1,442 £1,218 -16%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 63 for Leicester and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £42,000 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Sheffield.

Leicester £42,000 ≈
£42,000
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Leicester 51%
Sheffield 46%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leicester £2.39
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Leicester £1.48
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Leicester £35/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Leicester £10.08
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Leicester or Sheffield? +
Leicester pays a median £42,000 vs £39,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals have £205/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Leicester vs Sheffield? +
In Leicester: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £39,000£2,633/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leicester leaves £2,013/month vs Sheffield's £1,808/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Leicester purchasing power? +
Approximately £42,000 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Leicester, based on a cost-of-living index of 63 (Leicester) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Leicester or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Leicester and Sheffield have the same cost-of-living index of 63 (London = 100). Rent in Leicester averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Leicester? +
A accountant (qualified) in Leicester earning £42,000 takes home £2,813/month. With median 1-bed rent of £800/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 28% (comfortable). In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leicester and Sheffield

Afford Leicester on £40,000? Afford Sheffield on £40,000? Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Leicester Standard of living: Accountant (Qualified) in Sheffield

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