Winner on purchasing power
Brighton
After paying rent, a marketing manager in Brighton retains
£140/month more than in Leeds —
that's £1,680/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,393
Rent (1-bed)
£1,400
Rent-to-income
41% — Stretched
After rent
£1,993
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£41,000
Net monthly
£2,753
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,853
Brighton vs Leeds: what the £140/month gap means for a marketing manager
On paper, Brighton marketing manager roles pay £11,000/year
more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £3,393/month versus
£2,753/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month
versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in,
Brighton workers have £1,993/month
disposable income versus £1,853/month in Leeds —
that is £1,680/year in real spending power.
Brighton's rent-to-income ratio of 41%
compares favourably to Leeds's 33%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Brighton |
Leeds |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,400 |
£900 |
-36% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£65 |
-19% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£112 |
-28% |
| Groceries |
£295 |
£270 |
-8% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,323 |
£1,271 |
-4% |
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 66 for Leeds,
a salary of £52,000 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £41,850 in Leeds.
Brighton £52,000 ≈
£41,850
in Leeds
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
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Brighton
£1.90
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Brighton
£45/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton
£13.12
Leeds
£10.56
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Frequently asked questions
Does a marketing manager earn more in Brighton or Leeds?
+
Brighton pays a median £52,000 vs £41,000 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £11,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Brighton professionals
have £140/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a marketing manager in Brighton vs Leeds?
+
In Brighton: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £41,000 → £2,753/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £1,993/month
vs Leeds's £1,853/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £41,850 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£52,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of
82 (Brighton) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Brighton or Leeds cheaper to live in?
+
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100).
Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a marketing manager in Brighton?
+
A marketing manager in Brighton earning £52,000 takes home
£3,393/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 41%
(stretched).
In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 33%.