Winner on purchasing power
Aberdeen
After paying rent, a product manager in Aberdeen retains
£137/month more than in Bristol —
that's £1,644/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£68,000
Net monthly
£4,003
Rent (1-bed)
£1,050
Rent-to-income
26% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,953
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£68,000
Net monthly
£4,166
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
32% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,816
Aberdeen vs Bristol: what the £137/month gap means for a product manager
On paper, Aberdeen product manager roles pay £0/year
more than Bristol. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Aberdeen workers keep £4,003/month versus
£4,166/month in Bristol.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month
versus £1,350/month in Bristol. Once housing costs are factored in,
Aberdeen workers have £2,953/month
disposable income versus £2,816/month in Bristol —
that is £1,644/year in real spending power.
Aberdeen's rent-to-income ratio of 26%
compares favourably to Bristol's 32%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Aberdeen |
Bristol |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,050 |
£1,350 |
+29% |
| Transport |
£60 |
£80 |
+33% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£148 |
0% |
| Groceries |
£285 |
£285 |
0% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£2,320 |
£2,167 |
-7% |
Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen
and 75 for Bristol,
a salary of £68,000 in Aberdeen delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £69,850 in Bristol.
Aberdeen £68,000 ≈
£69,850
in Bristol
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
Aberdeen
£2.77
Bristol
£2.85
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen
£1.43
Bristol
£1.90
Gym membership
Aberdeen
£40/mo
Bristol
£41/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen
£11.68
Bristol
£12.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a product manager earn more in Aberdeen or Bristol?
+
Aberdeen pays a median £68,000 vs £68,000 in Bristol
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Aberdeen professionals
have £137/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a product manager in Aberdeen vs Bristol?
+
In Aberdeen: gross £68,000 → £4,003/month net take-home.
In Bristol: gross £68,000 → £4,166/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £2,953/month
vs Bristol's £2,816/month.
What salary in Bristol matches Aberdeen purchasing power?
+
Approximately £69,850 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£68,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of
73 (Aberdeen) vs 75 (Bristol).
Is Aberdeen or Bristol cheaper to live in?
+
Aberdeen is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 73 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed)
vs £1,350/month in Bristol.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a product manager in Aberdeen?
+
A product manager in Aberdeen earning £68,000 takes home
£4,003/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 26%
(comfortable).
In Bristol the equivalent ratio is 32%.