Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Bristol

Aberdeen wins on purchasing power. Aberdeen project managers have £110/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£55,000
£3,396/mo take-home
Bristol salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Aberdeen wins by
+£110
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Aberdeen

After paying rent, a project manager in Aberdeen retains £110/month more than in Bristol — that's £1,320/year extra in purchasing power.

+£110
per month
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £55,000
Net monthly £3,396
Rent (1-bed) £1,050
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £2,346
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £56,000
Net monthly £3,586
Rent (1-bed) £1,350
Rent-to-income 38% — Stretched
After rent £2,236

Aberdeen vs Bristol: what the £110/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Aberdeen project manager roles pay £1,000/year less than Bristol. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £3,396/month versus £3,586/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 £2,346/month disposable income versus £2,236/month in Bristol — that is £1,320/year in real spending power.

Aberdeen's rent-to-income ratio of 31% compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.

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 £1,713 £1,587 -7%

Sources: Robert Half 2026 · 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 £55,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,500 in Bristol.

Aberdeen £55,000 ≈
£56,500
in Bristol

Income retention after all essentials

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

Aberdeen 50%
Bristol 44%

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 project manager earn more in Aberdeen or Bristol? +
Aberdeen pays a median £55,000 vs £56,000 in Bristol — a gross difference of £1,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Aberdeen professionals have £110/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a project manager in Aberdeen vs Bristol? +
In Aberdeen: gross £55,000£3,396/month net take-home. In Bristol: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £2,346/month vs Bristol's £2,236/month.
What salary in Bristol matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £56,500 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 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 project manager in Aberdeen? +
A project manager in Aberdeen earning £55,000 takes home £3,396/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 31% (comfortable). In Bristol the equivalent ratio is 38%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Bristol

Afford Aberdeen on £55,000? Afford Bristol on £55,000? Standard of living: Project Manager in Aberdeen Standard of living: Project Manager in Bristol

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