DevOps Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Manchester vs Sheffield

Q: Does a devops engineer earn more in Manchester or Sheffield?

Manchester pays £62,000 vs £55,000 in Sheffield. After living costs, Manchester professionals have £113/month more disposable income.

Q: What is the take-home pay for a devops engineer in Manchester vs Sheffield?

In Manchester: £3,876/month net. In Sheffield: £3,538/month net. After rent, Manchester leaves £2,826/month vs Sheffield's £2,713/month.

Q: What salary in Sheffield matches Manchester purchasing power?

Approximately £57,450 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £62,000 in Manchester, based on a COL index of 68 vs 63.

Q: Is Manchester or Sheffield cheaper to live in?

Sheffield is cheaper (COL 63 vs 68). Rent: Manchester £1,050/mo vs Sheffield £825/mo.

Q: What is the rent-to-income ratio for a devops engineer in Manchester?

A devops engineer in Manchester has a rent-to-income ratio of 27% (comfortable). In Sheffield the equivalent is 23%.

Manchester wins on purchasing power. Manchester devops engineers have £113/month more disposable income after rent than their Sheffield counterparts.

Manchester salary

£62,000

£3,876/mo take-home

Sheffield salary

£55,000

£3,538/mo take-home

Manchester wins by

+£113

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Manchester

After paying rent, a devops engineer in Manchester retains £113/month more than in Sheffield — that's £1,356/year extra in purchasing power.

+£113

per month

Manchester

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Gross salary £62,000

Net monthly £3,876

Rent (1-bed) £1,050

Rent-to-income 27% — Comfortable

After rent £2,826

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category	Manchester	Sheffield	Delta
Rent (1-bed median)	£1,050	£825	-21%
Transport	£75	£65	-13%
Council tax	£128	£126	-2%
Groceries	£280	£265	-5%
Disposable income remaining	£2,198	£2,123	-3%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 68 for Manchester and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £62,000 in Manchester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £57,450 in Sheffield.

Manchester £62,000 ≈

£57,450

in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Manchester 57%

Sheffield 60%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino

Manchester £2.58

Sheffield £2.39

Transit (single trip)

Manchester £1.79

Sheffield £1.55

Gym membership

Manchester £37/mo

Sheffield £35/mo

Cinema ticket

Manchester £10.88

Sheffield £10.08

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

Does a devops engineer earn more in Manchester or Sheffield? +

Manchester pays a median £62,000 vs £55,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £7,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Manchester professionals have £113/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.

What is the take-home pay for a devops engineer in Manchester vs Sheffield? +

In Manchester: gross £62,000 → £3,876/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £55,000 → £3,538/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Manchester leaves £2,826/month vs Sheffield's £2,713/month.

What salary in Sheffield matches Manchester purchasing power? +

Approximately £57,450 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £62,000 in Manchester, based on a cost-of-living index of 68 (Manchester) vs 63 (Sheffield).

Is Manchester or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +

Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 68 for Manchester (London = 100). Rent in Manchester averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.

What is the rent-to-income ratio for a devops engineer in Manchester? +

A devops engineer in Manchester earning £62,000 takes home £3,876/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 27% (comfortable). In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 23%.