DevOps Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Leeds vs York

Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds devops engineers have £392/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Leeds salary
£57,000
£3,635/mo take-home
York salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£392
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds

After paying rent, a devops engineer in Leeds retains £392/month more than in York — that's £4,704/year extra in purchasing power.

+£392
per month
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £57,000
Net monthly £3,635
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 25% — Comfortable
After rent £2,735
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £50,000
Net monthly £3,293
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 29% — Comfortable
After rent £2,343

Leeds vs York: what the £392/month gap means for a devops engineer

On paper, Leeds devops engineer roles pay £7,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leeds workers keep £3,635/month versus £3,293/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,735/month disposable income versus £2,343/month in York — that is £4,704/year in real spending power.

Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 25% compares favourably to York's 29%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Leeds York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £900 £950 +6%
Transport £65 £68 +5%
Council tax £112 £120 +7%
Groceries £270 £270 0%
Disposable income remaining £2,153 £1,750 -19%

Sources: LinkedIn 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 68 for York, a salary of £57,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,750 in York.

Leeds £57,000 ≈
£58,750
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Leeds 59%
York 53%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leeds £2.51
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Leeds £1.55
York £1.62
Gym membership
Leeds £36/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds £10.56
York £10.88

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Frequently asked questions

Does a devops engineer earn more in Leeds or York? +
Leeds pays a median £57,000 vs £50,000 in York — a gross difference of £7,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals have £392/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a devops engineer in Leeds vs York? +
In Leeds: gross £57,000£3,635/month net take-home. In York: gross £50,000£3,293/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £2,735/month vs York's £2,343/month.
What salary in York matches Leeds purchasing power? +
Approximately £58,750 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £57,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of 66 (Leeds) vs 68 (York).
Is Leeds or York cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 68 for York (London = 100). Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a devops engineer in Leeds? +
A devops engineer in Leeds earning £57,000 takes home £3,635/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 25% (comfortable). In York the equivalent ratio is 29%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leeds and York

Afford Leeds on £55,000? Afford York on £50,000? Standard of living: DevOps Engineer in Leeds Standard of living: DevOps Engineer in York

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