Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield
After paying rent, a financial analyst in Sheffield retains
£198/month more than in Brighton —
that's £2,376/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£54,000
Net monthly
£3,490
Rent (1-bed)
£1,400
Rent-to-income
40% — Stretched
After rent
£2,090
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£47,000
Net monthly
£3,113
Rent (1-bed)
£825
Rent-to-income
27% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,288
Brighton vs Sheffield: what the £198/month gap means for a financial analyst
On paper, Brighton financial analyst roles pay £7,000/year
more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £3,490/month versus
£3,113/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 £2,288/month
disposable income versus £2,090/month in Brighton —
that is £2,376/year in real spending power.
Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 27%
compares favourably to Brighton's 40%.
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 |
£1,420 |
£1,698 |
+20% |
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 £54,000 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £41,500 in Sheffield.
Brighton £54,000 ≈
£41,500
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
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 financial analyst earn more in Brighton or Sheffield?
+
Brighton pays a median £54,000 vs £47,000 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £7,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals
have £198/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a financial analyst in Brighton vs Sheffield?
+
In Brighton: gross £54,000 → £3,490/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £47,000 → £3,113/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,090/month
vs Sheffield's £2,288/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £41,500 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£54,000 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 financial analyst in Brighton?
+
A financial analyst in Brighton earning £54,000 takes home
£3,490/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 40%
(stretched).
In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 27%.