Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield
After paying rent, a project manager in Sheffield retains
£142/month more than in Oxford —
that's £1,704/year extra in purchasing power.
Oxford
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£62,000
Net monthly
£3,876
Rent (1-bed)
£1,450
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£2,426
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
Oxford vs Sheffield: what the £142/month gap means for a project manager
On paper, Oxford project manager roles pay £10,000/year
more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Oxford workers keep £3,876/month versus
£3,393/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Oxford rent runs £1,450/month
versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in,
Sheffield workers have £2,568/month
disposable income versus £2,426/month in Oxford —
that is £1,704/year in real spending power.
Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 24%
compares favourably to Oxford's 37%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Oxford |
Sheffield |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,450 |
£825 |
-43% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£65 |
-19% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£126 |
-19% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£265 |
-12% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,751 |
£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 85 for Oxford
and 63 for Sheffield,
a salary of £62,000 in Oxford delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £45,950 in Sheffield.
Oxford £62,000 ≈
£45,950
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
Oxford
£3.23
Sheffield
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Oxford
£1.90
Sheffield
£1.55
Gym membership
Oxford
£47/mo
Sheffield
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Oxford
£13.60
Sheffield
£10.08
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 Oxford or Sheffield?
+
Oxford pays a median £62,000 vs £52,000 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £10,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals
have £142/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a project manager in Oxford vs Sheffield?
+
In Oxford: gross £62,000 → £3,876/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Oxford leaves £2,426/month
vs Sheffield's £2,568/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Oxford purchasing power?
+
Approximately £45,950 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£62,000 in Oxford, based on a cost-of-living index of
85 (Oxford) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Oxford or Sheffield cheaper to live in?
+
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 85 for Oxford (London = 100).
Rent in Oxford averages £1,450/month (1-bed)
vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a project manager in Oxford?
+
A project manager in Oxford earning £62,000 takes home
£3,876/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,450/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 37%
(stretched).
In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 24%.