Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Leeds

Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds project managers have £354/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Leeds salary
£54,000
£3,490/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£354
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds

After paying rent, a project manager in Leeds retains £354/month more than in Bristol — that's £4,248/year extra in purchasing power.

+£354
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
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £54,000
Net monthly £3,490
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 26% — Comfortable
After rent £2,590

Bristol vs Leeds: what the £354/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Bristol project manager roles pay £2,000/year more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,586/month versus £3,490/month in Leeds.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,590/month disposable income versus £2,236/month in Bristol — that is £4,248/year in real spending power.

Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 26% compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Leeds Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £900 -33%
Transport £80 £65 -19%
Council tax £148 £112 -24%
Groceries £285 £270 -5%
Disposable income remaining £1,587 £2,008 +27%

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 66 for Leeds, a salary of £56,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £49,300 in Leeds.

Bristol £56,000 ≈
£49,300
in Leeds

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 44%
Leeds 58%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Leeds £2.51
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Leeds £1.55
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Leeds £36/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Leeds £10.56

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Bristol or Leeds? +
Bristol pays a median £56,000 vs £54,000 in Leeds — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals have £354/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 Leeds? +
In Bristol: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Leeds: gross £54,000£3,490/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,236/month vs Leeds's £2,590/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £49,300 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Bristol or Leeds cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Leeds.
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 Leeds the equivalent ratio is 26%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Leeds

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

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