Winner on purchasing power
Bristol
After paying rent, a project manager in Bristol retains
£133/month more than in York —
that's £1,596/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
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
Bristol vs York: what the £133/month gap means for a project manager
On paper, Bristol project manager roles pay £10,000/year
more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Bristol workers keep £3,586/month versus
£3,053/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
Bristol workers have £2,236/month
disposable income versus £2,103/month in York —
that is £1,596/year in real spending power.
Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 38%
compares favourably to York's 31%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Bristol |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,350 |
£950 |
-30% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£68 |
-15% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£120 |
-19% |
| Groceries |
£285 |
£270 |
-5% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,587 |
£1,510 |
-5% |
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 68 for York,
a salary of £56,000 in Bristol delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £50,750 in York.
Bristol £56,000 ≈
£50,750
in York
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
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Bristol
£1.90
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Bristol
£41/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol
£12.00
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a project manager earn more in Bristol or York?
+
Bristol pays a median £56,000 vs £46,000 in York
— a gross difference of £10,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals
have £133/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 York?
+
In Bristol: gross £56,000 → £3,586/month net take-home.
In York: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,236/month
vs York's £2,103/month.
What salary in York matches Bristol purchasing power?
+
Approximately £50,750 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£56,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of
75 (Bristol) vs 68 (York).
Is Bristol or York cheaper to live in?
+
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 31%.