Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs York

York wins on purchasing power. York project managers have £13/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary
£54,000
£3,490/mo take-home
York salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
York wins by
+£13
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
York

After paying rent, a project manager in York retains £13/month more than in Brighton — that's £156/year extra in purchasing power.

+£13
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £2,103

Brighton vs York: what the £13/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Brighton project manager roles pay £8,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,490/month versus £3,053/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, York workers have £2,103/month disposable income versus £2,090/month in Brighton — that is £156/year in real spending power.

York's rent-to-income ratio of 31% compares favourably to Brighton's 40%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £950 -32%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £155 £120 -23%
Groceries £295 £270 -8%
Disposable income remaining £1,420 £1,510 +6%

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 68 for York, a salary of £54,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,800 in York.

Brighton £54,000 ≈
£44,800
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 41%
York 49%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
York £1.62
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
York £10.88

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Brighton or York? +
Brighton pays a median £54,000 vs £46,000 in York — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, York professionals have £13/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 York? +
In Brighton: gross £54,000£3,490/month net take-home. In York: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,090/month vs York's £2,103/month.
What salary in York matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £44,800 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £54,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 68 (York).
Is Brighton or York cheaper to live in? +
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and York

Afford Brighton on £55,000? Afford York on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Brighton → York Standard of living: Project Manager in Brighton Standard of living: Project Manager in York

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