Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Oxford

Oxford wins on purchasing power. Oxford project managers have £336/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary
£54,000
£3,490/mo take-home
Oxford salary
£62,000
£3,876/mo take-home
Oxford wins by
+£336
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Oxford

After paying rent, a project manager in Oxford retains £336/month more than in Brighton — that's £4,032/year extra in purchasing power.

+£336
per month
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £54,000
Net monthly £3,490
Rent (1-bed) £1,400
Rent-to-income 40% — Stretched
After rent £2,090
Oxford
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £62,000
Net monthly £3,876
Rent (1-bed) £1,450
Rent-to-income 37% — Stretched
After rent £2,426

Brighton vs Oxford: what the £336/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Brighton project manager roles pay £8,000/year less than Oxford. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,490/month versus £3,876/month in Oxford.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £1,450/month in Oxford. Once housing costs are factored in, Oxford workers have £2,426/month disposable income versus £2,090/month in Brighton — that is £4,032/year in real spending power.

Oxford's rent-to-income ratio of 37% compares favourably to Brighton's 40%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton Oxford Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £1,450 +4%
Transport £80 £80 0%
Council tax £155 £155 0%
Groceries £295 £300 +2%
Disposable income remaining £1,420 £1,751 +23%

Sources: Robert Half 2026 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 85 for Oxford, a salary of £54,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Oxford.

Brighton £54,000 ≈
£56,000
in Oxford

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 41%
Oxford 45%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
Oxford £3.23
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
Oxford £1.90
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
Oxford £47/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
Oxford £13.60

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Brighton or Oxford? +
Brighton pays a median £54,000 vs £62,000 in Oxford — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Oxford professionals have £336/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a project manager in Brighton vs Oxford? +
In Brighton: gross £54,000£3,490/month net take-home. In Oxford: gross £62,000£3,876/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,090/month vs Oxford's £2,426/month.
What salary in Oxford matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £56,000 in Oxford delivers equivalent purchasing power to £54,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 85 (Oxford).
Is Brighton or Oxford cheaper to live in? +
Brighton is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 82 vs 85 for Oxford (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £1,450/month in Oxford.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a project manager in Brighton? +
A project manager in Brighton earning £54,000 takes home £3,490/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 40% (stretched). In Oxford the equivalent ratio is 37%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and Oxford

Afford Brighton on £55,000? Afford Oxford on £60,000? Salary equivalence: Brighton → Oxford Standard of living: Project Manager in Brighton Standard of living: Project Manager in Oxford

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