Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow
After paying rent, a project manager in Glasgow retains
£120/month more than in Bristol —
that's £1,440/year extra in purchasing power.
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
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,256
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
28% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,356
Bristol vs Glasgow: what the £120/month gap means for a project manager
On paper, Bristol project manager roles pay £4,000/year
more than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Bristol workers keep £3,586/month versus
£3,256/month in Glasgow.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month
versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in,
Glasgow workers have £2,356/month
disposable income versus £2,236/month in Bristol —
that is £1,440/year in real spending power.
Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 28%
compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Bristol |
Glasgow |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,350 |
£900 |
-33% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£55 |
-31% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£148 |
0% |
| Groceries |
£285 |
£265 |
-7% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,587 |
£1,758 |
+11% |
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 62 for Glasgow,
a salary of £56,000 in Bristol delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £46,300 in Glasgow.
Bristol £56,000 ≈
£46,300
in Glasgow
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Bristol
£2.85
Glasgow
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Bristol
£1.90
Glasgow
£1.31
Gym membership
Bristol
£41/mo
Glasgow
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol
£12.00
Glasgow
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a project manager earn more in Bristol or Glasgow?
+
Bristol pays a median £56,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow
— a gross difference of £4,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals
have £120/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 Glasgow?
+
In Bristol: gross £56,000 → £3,586/month net take-home.
In Glasgow: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,236/month
vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Bristol purchasing power?
+
Approximately £46,300 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£56,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of
75 (Bristol) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Bristol or Glasgow cheaper to live in?
+
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Glasgow.
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 Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.