Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Exeter

Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol project managers have £303/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Bristol salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Exeter salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Bristol wins by
+£303
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Bristol

After paying rent, a project manager in Bristol retains £303/month more than in Exeter — that's £3,636/year extra in purchasing power.

+£303
per month
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
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £44,000
Net monthly £2,933
Rent (1-bed) £1,000
Rent-to-income 34% — Stretched
After rent £1,933

Bristol vs Exeter: what the £303/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Bristol project manager roles pay £12,000/year more than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,586/month versus £2,933/month in Exeter.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in, Bristol workers have £2,236/month disposable income versus £1,933/month in Exeter — that is £3,636/year in real spending power.

Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Exeter's 34%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Exeter Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £1,000 -26%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £148 £125 -16%
Groceries £285 £272 -5%
Disposable income remaining £1,587 £1,333 -16%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 70 for Exeter, a salary of £56,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,250 in Exeter.

Bristol £56,000 ≈
£52,250
in Exeter

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 44%
Exeter 45%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Exeter £2.66
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Exeter £1.62
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Exeter £39/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Exeter £11.20

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Bristol or Exeter? +
Bristol pays a median £56,000 vs £44,000 in Exeter — a gross difference of £12,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals have £303/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a project manager in Bristol vs Exeter? +
In Bristol: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Exeter: gross £44,000£2,933/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,236/month vs Exeter's £1,933/month.
What salary in Exeter matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £52,250 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 70 (Exeter).
Is Bristol or Exeter cheaper to live in? +
Exeter is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 70 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £1,000/month in Exeter.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a project manager in Bristol? +
A project manager in Bristol earning £56,000 takes home £3,586/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 38% (stretched). In Exeter the equivalent ratio is 34%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Exeter

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

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