Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a software engineer in Leeds retains
£160/month more than in Bristol —
that's £1,920/year extra in purchasing power.
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,393
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
27% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,493
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£58,000
Net monthly
£3,683
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£2,333
Leeds vs Bristol: what the £160/month gap means for a software engineer
On paper, Leeds software engineer roles pay £6,000/year
less than Bristol. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Leeds workers keep £3,393/month versus
£3,683/month in Bristol.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month
versus £1,350/month in Bristol. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £2,493/month
disposable income versus £2,333/month in Bristol —
that is £1,920/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 27%
compares favourably to Bristol's 37%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Leeds |
Bristol |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£1,350 |
+50% |
| Transport |
£65 |
£80 |
+23% |
| Council tax |
£112 |
£148 |
+32% |
| Groceries |
£270 |
£285 |
+6% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,911 |
£1,684 |
-12% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds
and 75 for Bristol,
a salary of £52,000 in Leeds delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £59,100 in Bristol.
Leeds £52,000 ≈
£59,100
in Bristol
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
Bristol
£2.85
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
Bristol
£1.90
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
Bristol
£41/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
Bristol
£12.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in Leeds or Bristol?
+
Leeds pays a median £52,000 vs £58,000 in Bristol
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £160/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Leeds vs Bristol?
+
In Leeds: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
In Bristol: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £2,493/month
vs Bristol's £2,333/month.
What salary in Bristol matches Leeds purchasing power?
+
Approximately £59,100 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£52,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 75 (Bristol).
Is Leeds or Bristol cheaper to live in?
+
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £1,350/month in Bristol.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Leeds?
+
A software engineer in Leeds earning £52,000 takes home
£3,393/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 27%
(comfortable).
In Bristol the equivalent ratio is 37%.