Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge
After paying rent, a project manager in Cambridge retains
£102/month more than in Nottingham —
that's £1,224/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
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£48,000
Net monthly
£3,173
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
27% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,323
Cambridge vs Nottingham: what the £102/month gap means for a project manager
On paper, Cambridge project manager roles pay £15,000/year
more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,925/month versus
£3,173/month in Nottingham.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month
versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in,
Cambridge workers have £2,425/month
disposable income versus £2,323/month in Nottingham —
that is £1,224/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 38%
compares favourably to Nottingham's 27%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cambridge |
Nottingham |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,500 |
£850 |
-43% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£58 |
-23% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£118 |
-24% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£260 |
-13% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,755 |
£1,754 |
0% |
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 63 for Nottingham,
a salary of £63,000 in Cambridge delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £45,600 in Nottingham.
Cambridge £63,000 ≈
£45,600
in Nottingham
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
Nottingham
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge
£1.79
Nottingham
£1.38
Gym membership
Cambridge
£48/mo
Nottingham
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge
£13.92
Nottingham
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a project manager earn more in Cambridge or Nottingham?
+
Cambridge pays a median £63,000 vs £48,000 in Nottingham
— a gross difference of £15,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals
have £102/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 Nottingham?
+
In Cambridge: gross £63,000 → £3,925/month net take-home.
In Nottingham: gross £48,000 → £3,173/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,425/month
vs Nottingham's £2,323/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Cambridge purchasing power?
+
Approximately £45,600 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£63,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of
87 (Cambridge) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Cambridge or Nottingham cheaper to live in?
+
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100).
Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed)
vs £850/month in Nottingham.
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 Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 27%.