Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a project manager in Leeds retains
£165/month more than in Cambridge —
that's £1,980/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£63,000
Net monthly
£3,925
Rent (1-bed)
£1,500
Rent-to-income
38% — Stretched
After rent
£2,425
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
Cambridge vs Leeds: what the £165/month gap means for a project manager
On paper, Cambridge project manager roles pay £9,000/year
more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,925/month versus
£3,490/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month
versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £2,590/month
disposable income versus £2,425/month in Cambridge —
that is £1,980/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 26%
compares favourably to Cambridge's 38%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cambridge |
Leeds |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,500 |
£900 |
-40% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£65 |
-13% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£112 |
-28% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£270 |
-10% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,755 |
£2,008 |
+14% |
Sources: Robert Half 2026 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge
and 66 for Leeds,
a salary of £63,000 in Cambridge delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £47,800 in Leeds.
Cambridge £63,000 ≈
£47,800
in Leeds
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
Cambridge
£3.31
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge
£1.79
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Cambridge
£48/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge
£13.92
Leeds
£10.56
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Frequently asked questions
Does a project manager earn more in Cambridge or Leeds?
+
Cambridge pays a median £63,000 vs £54,000 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £9,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £165/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a project manager in Cambridge vs Leeds?
+
In Cambridge: gross £63,000 → £3,925/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £54,000 → £3,490/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,425/month
vs Leeds's £2,590/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Cambridge purchasing power?
+
Approximately £47,800 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£63,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of
87 (Cambridge) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Cambridge or Leeds cheaper to live in?
+
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100).
Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a project manager in Cambridge?
+
A project manager in Cambridge earning £63,000 takes home
£3,925/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,500/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 38%
(stretched).
In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 26%.