Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Sheffield retains
£85/month more than in Nottingham —
that's £1,020/year extra in purchasing power.
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
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
Nottingham vs Sheffield: what the £85/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Nottingham accountant (qualified) roles pay £1,000/year
less than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Nottingham workers keep £2,573/month versus
£2,633/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Nottingham rent runs £850/month
versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in,
Sheffield workers have £1,808/month
disposable income versus £1,723/month in Nottingham —
that is £1,020/year in real spending power.
Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 31%
compares favourably to Nottingham's 33%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Nottingham |
Sheffield |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£850 |
£825 |
-3% |
| Transport |
£58 |
£65 |
+12% |
| Council tax |
£118 |
£126 |
+7% |
| Groceries |
£260 |
£265 |
+2% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,154 |
£1,218 |
+6% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 63 for Nottingham
and 63 for Sheffield,
a salary of £38,000 in Nottingham delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £38,000 in Sheffield.
Nottingham £38,000 ≈
£38,000
in Sheffield
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
Nottingham
£2.39
Sheffield
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Nottingham
£1.38
Sheffield
£1.55
Gym membership
Nottingham
£35/mo
Sheffield
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Nottingham
£10.08
Sheffield
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Nottingham or Sheffield?
+
Nottingham pays a median £38,000 vs £39,000 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £1,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals
have £85/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Nottingham vs Sheffield?
+
In Nottingham: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £39,000 → £2,633/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Nottingham leaves £1,723/month
vs Sheffield's £1,808/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Nottingham purchasing power?
+
Approximately £38,000 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£38,000 in Nottingham, based on a cost-of-living index of
63 (Nottingham) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Nottingham or Sheffield cheaper to live in?
+
Nottingham and Sheffield have the same cost-of-living index of 63 (London = 100).
Rent in Nottingham averages £850/month (1-bed)
vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Nottingham?
+
A accountant (qualified) in Nottingham earning £38,000 takes home
£2,573/month. With median 1-bed rent of £850/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 33%
(comfortable).
In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 31%.