Project Manager · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Nottingham

Nottingham wins on purchasing power. Nottingham project managers have £74/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.

Edinburgh salary
£54,000
£3,349/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£48,000
£3,173/mo take-home
Nottingham wins by
+£74
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Nottingham

After paying rent, a project manager in Nottingham retains £74/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £888/year extra in purchasing power.

+£74
per month
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £54,000
Net monthly £3,349
Rent (1-bed) £1,100
Rent-to-income 33% — Comfortable
After rent £2,249
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

Edinburgh vs Nottingham: what the £74/month gap means for a project manager

On paper, Edinburgh project manager roles pay £6,000/year more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £3,349/month versus £3,173/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Nottingham workers have £2,323/month disposable income versus £2,249/month in Edinburgh — that is £888/year in real spending power.

Nottingham's rent-to-income ratio of 27% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 33%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Edinburgh Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,100 £850 -23%
Transport £62 £58 -6%
Council tax £155 £118 -24%
Groceries £280 £260 -7%
Disposable income remaining £1,622 £1,754 +8%

Sources: Robert Half 2026 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £54,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,250 in Nottingham.

Edinburgh £54,000 ≈
£47,250
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 48%
Nottingham 55%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Edinburgh £2.74
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh £1.48
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Edinburgh £40/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh £11.52
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a project manager earn more in Edinburgh or Nottingham? +
Edinburgh pays a median £54,000 vs £48,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £6,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Nottingham professionals have £74/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a project manager in Edinburgh vs Nottingham? +
In Edinburgh: gross £54,000£3,349/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £48,000£3,173/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,249/month vs Nottingham's £2,323/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £47,250 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £54,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Edinburgh or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a project manager in Edinburgh? +
A project manager in Edinburgh earning £54,000 takes home £3,349/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 33% (comfortable). In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 27%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Edinburgh and Nottingham

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

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