Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Sheffield

Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield project managers have £332/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£332
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield

After paying rent, a project manager in Sheffield retains £332/month more than in Bristol — that's £3,984/year extra in purchasing power.

+£332
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £52,000
Net monthly £3,393
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 24% — Comfortable
After rent £2,568

Bristol vs Sheffield: what the £332/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Bristol project manager roles pay £4,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,586/month versus £3,393/month in Sheffield.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Sheffield workers have £2,568/month disposable income versus £2,236/month in Bristol — that is £3,984/year in real spending power.

Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 24% compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £825 -39%
Transport £80 £65 -19%
Council tax £148 £126 -15%
Groceries £285 £265 -7%
Disposable income remaining £1,587 £1,978 +25%

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 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £56,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,050 in Sheffield.

Bristol £56,000 ≈
£47,050
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 44%
Sheffield 58%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Bristol or Sheffield? +
Bristol pays a median £56,000 vs £52,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £4,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals have £332/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 Sheffield? +
In Bristol: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £52,000£3,393/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,236/month vs Sheffield's £2,568/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £47,050 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Bristol or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 24%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Sheffield

Afford Bristol on £55,000? Afford Sheffield on £50,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Sheffield Standard of living: Project Manager in Bristol Standard of living: Project Manager in Sheffield

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