Winner on purchasing power
Nottingham
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Nottingham retains
£190/month more than in London —
that's £2,280/year extra in purchasing power.
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£58,000
Net monthly
£3,683
Rent (1-bed)
£2,150
Rent-to-income
58% — High pressure
After rent
£1,533
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
London vs Nottingham: what the £190/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, London accountant (qualified) roles pay £20,000/year
more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — London workers keep £3,683/month versus
£2,573/month in Nottingham.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average London rent runs £2,150/month
versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in,
Nottingham workers have £1,723/month
disposable income versus £1,533/month in London —
that is £2,280/year in real spending power.
Nottingham's rent-to-income ratio of 33%
compares favourably to London's 58%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
London |
Nottingham |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£2,150 |
£850 |
-60% |
| Transport |
£185 |
£58 |
-69% |
| Council tax |
£165 |
£118 |
-28% |
| Groceries |
£320 |
£260 |
-19% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£721 |
£1,154 |
+60% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London
and 63 for Nottingham,
a salary of £58,000 in London delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £36,550 in Nottingham.
London £58,000 ≈
£36,550
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
London
£3.80
Nottingham
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Nottingham
£1.38
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Nottingham
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Nottingham
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in London or Nottingham?
+
London pays a median £58,000 vs £38,000 in Nottingham
— a gross difference of £20,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Nottingham 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 London vs Nottingham?
+
In London: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home.
In Nottingham: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £1,533/month
vs Nottingham's £1,723/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches London purchasing power?
+
Approximately £36,550 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£58,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is London or Nottingham cheaper to live in?
+
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,150/month (1-bed)
vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in London?
+
A accountant (qualified) in London earning £58,000 takes home
£3,683/month. With median 1-bed rent of £2,150/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 58%
(high pressure).
In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 33%.