Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Leicester

Leicester wins on purchasing power. Leicester project managers have £27/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£55,000
£3,396/mo take-home
Leicester salary
£48,000
£3,173/mo take-home
Leicester wins by
+£27
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leicester

After paying rent, a project manager in Leicester retains £27/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £324/year extra in purchasing power.

+£27
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
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £48,000
Net monthly £3,173
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 25% — Comfortable
After rent £2,373

Aberdeen vs Leicester: what the £27/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Aberdeen project manager roles pay £7,000/year more than Leicester. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £3,396/month versus £3,173/month in Leicester.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £800/month in Leicester. Once housing costs are factored in, Leicester workers have £2,373/month disposable income versus £2,346/month in Aberdeen — that is £324/year in real spending power.

Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 25% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 31%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Leicester Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £800 -24%
Transport £60 £62 +3%
Council tax £148 £118 -20%
Groceries £285 £258 -9%
Disposable income remaining £1,713 £1,802 +5%

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 63 for Leicester, a salary of £55,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,450 in Leicester.

Aberdeen £55,000 ≈
£47,450
in Leicester

Income retention after all essentials

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

Aberdeen 50%
Leicester 57%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Leicester £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Leicester £1.48
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Leicester £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Leicester £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Aberdeen or Leicester? +
Aberdeen pays a median £55,000 vs £48,000 in Leicester — a gross difference of £7,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals have £27/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 Leicester? +
In Aberdeen: gross £55,000£3,396/month net take-home. In Leicester: gross £48,000£3,173/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £2,346/month vs Leicester's £2,373/month.
What salary in Leicester matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £47,450 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 63 (Leicester).
Is Aberdeen or Leicester cheaper to live in? +
Leicester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 73 for Aberdeen (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Leicester.
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 Leicester the equivalent ratio is 25%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Leicester

Afford Aberdeen on £55,000? Afford Leicester on £50,000? Salary equivalence: Aberdeen → Leicester Standard of living: Project Manager in Aberdeen Standard of living: Project Manager in Leicester

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