Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield
After paying rent, a project manager in Sheffield retains
£143/month more than in Cambridge —
that's £1,716/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
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
Cambridge vs Sheffield: what the £143/month gap means for a project manager
On paper, Cambridge project manager roles pay £11,000/year
more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,925/month versus
£3,393/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month
versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in,
Sheffield workers have £2,568/month
disposable income versus £2,425/month in Cambridge —
that is £1,716/year in real spending power.
Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 24%
compares favourably to Cambridge's 38%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cambridge |
Sheffield |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,500 |
£825 |
-45% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£65 |
-13% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£126 |
-19% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£265 |
-12% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,755 |
£1,978 |
+13% |
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 Sheffield,
a salary of £63,000 in Cambridge delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £45,600 in Sheffield.
Cambridge £63,000 ≈
£45,600
in Sheffield
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
Sheffield
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge
£1.79
Sheffield
£1.55
Gym membership
Cambridge
£48/mo
Sheffield
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge
£13.92
Sheffield
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a project manager earn more in Cambridge or Sheffield?
+
Cambridge pays a median £63,000 vs £52,000 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £11,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals
have £143/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 Sheffield?
+
In Cambridge: gross £63,000 → £3,925/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,425/month
vs Sheffield's £2,568/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Cambridge purchasing power?
+
Approximately £45,600 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£63,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of
87 (Cambridge) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Cambridge or Sheffield cheaper to live in?
+
Sheffield 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 £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 24%.