Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Leeds

Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds project managers have £244/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£55,000
£3,396/mo take-home
Leeds salary
£54,000
£3,490/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£244
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds

After paying rent, a project manager in Leeds retains £244/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £2,928/year extra in purchasing power.

+£244
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
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £54,000
Net monthly £3,490
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 26% — Comfortable
After rent £2,590

Aberdeen vs Leeds: what the £244/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Aberdeen project manager roles pay £1,000/year more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £3,396/month versus £3,490/month in Leeds.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,590/month disposable income versus £2,346/month in Aberdeen — that is £2,928/year in real spending power.

Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 26% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 31%.

For project managers prioritising financial freedom, Leeds delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Leeds Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £900 -14%
Transport £60 £65 +8%
Council tax £148 £112 -24%
Groceries £285 £270 -5%
Disposable income remaining £1,713 £2,008 +17%

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 66 for Leeds, a salary of £55,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £49,750 in Leeds.

Aberdeen £55,000 ≈
£49,750
in Leeds

Income retention after all essentials

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

Aberdeen 50%
Leeds 58%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Leeds £2.51
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Leeds £1.55
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Leeds £36/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Leeds £10.56

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Aberdeen or Leeds? +
Aberdeen pays a median £55,000 vs £54,000 in Leeds — a gross difference of £1,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals have £244/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 Leeds? +
In Aberdeen: gross £55,000£3,396/month net take-home. In Leeds: gross £54,000£3,490/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £2,346/month vs Leeds's £2,590/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £49,750 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Aberdeen or Leeds cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 73 for Aberdeen (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Leeds.
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 Leeds the equivalent ratio is 26%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Leeds

Afford Aberdeen on £55,000? Afford Leeds on £55,000? Salary equivalence: Aberdeen → Leeds Standard of living: Project Manager in Aberdeen Standard of living: Project Manager in Leeds

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