DevOps Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Sheffield

Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield devops engineers have £333/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary
£60,000
£3,780/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£55,000
£3,538/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£333
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield

After paying rent, a devops engineer in Sheffield retains £333/month more than in Brighton — that's £3,996/year extra in purchasing power.

+£333
per month
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £60,000
Net monthly £3,780
Rent (1-bed) £1,400
Rent-to-income 37% — Stretched
After rent £2,380
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £55,000
Net monthly £3,538
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 23% — Comfortable
After rent £2,713

Brighton vs Sheffield: what the £333/month gap means for a devops engineer

On paper, Brighton devops engineer roles pay £5,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,780/month versus £3,538/month in Sheffield.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Sheffield workers have £2,713/month disposable income versus £2,380/month in Brighton — that is £3,996/year in real spending power.

Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 23% compares favourably to Brighton's 37%.

For devops engineers prioritising financial freedom, Sheffield delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £825 -41%
Transport £80 £65 -19%
Council tax £155 £126 -19%
Groceries £295 £265 -10%
Disposable income remaining £1,710 £2,123 +24%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £60,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,100 in Sheffield.

Brighton £60,000 ≈
£46,100
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 45%
Sheffield 60%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a devops engineer earn more in Brighton or Sheffield? +
Brighton pays a median £60,000 vs £55,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £5,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals have £333/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a devops engineer in Brighton vs Sheffield? +
In Brighton: gross £60,000£3,780/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £55,000£3,538/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,380/month vs Sheffield's £2,713/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,100 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £60,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Brighton or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a devops engineer in Brighton? +
A devops engineer in Brighton earning £60,000 takes home £3,780/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 37% (stretched). In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 23%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and Sheffield

Afford Brighton on £60,000? Afford Sheffield on £55,000? Salary equivalence: Brighton → Sheffield Standard of living: DevOps Engineer in Brighton Standard of living: DevOps Engineer 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