Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a project manager in Leeds retains
£97/month more than in Liverpool —
that's £1,164/year extra in purchasing power.
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
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£50,000
Net monthly
£3,293
Rent (1-bed)
£800
Rent-to-income
24% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,493
Leeds vs Liverpool: what the £97/month gap means for a project manager
On paper, Leeds project manager roles pay £4,000/year
more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Leeds workers keep £3,490/month versus
£3,293/month in Liverpool.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month
versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £2,590/month
disposable income versus £2,493/month in Liverpool —
that is £1,164/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 26%
compares favourably to Liverpool's 24%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Leeds |
Liverpool |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£800 |
-11% |
| Transport |
£65 |
£70 |
+8% |
| Council tax |
£112 |
£115 |
+3% |
| Groceries |
£270 |
£260 |
-4% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£2,008 |
£1,915 |
-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 66 for Leeds
and 62 for Liverpool,
a salary of £54,000 in Leeds delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £50,750 in Liverpool.
Leeds £54,000 ≈
£50,750
in Liverpool
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
Leeds
£2.51
Liverpool
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
Liverpool
£1.67
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
Liverpool
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
Liverpool
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a project manager earn more in Leeds or Liverpool?
+
Leeds pays a median £54,000 vs £50,000 in Liverpool
— a gross difference of £4,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £97/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a project manager in Leeds vs Liverpool?
+
In Leeds: gross £54,000 → £3,490/month net take-home.
In Liverpool: gross £50,000 → £3,293/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £2,590/month
vs Liverpool's £2,493/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Leeds purchasing power?
+
Approximately £50,750 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£54,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Leeds or Liverpool cheaper to live in?
+
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 66 for Leeds (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a project manager in Leeds?
+
A project manager in Leeds earning £54,000 takes home
£3,490/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 26%
(comfortable).
In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 24%.