UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Leeds

Q: Does a ux designer earn more in Edinburgh or Leeds?

Edinburgh pays £52,000 vs £47,000 in Leeds. After living costs, Leeds professionals have £57/month more disposable income.

Q: What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Edinburgh vs Leeds?

In Edinburgh: £3,256/month net. In Leeds: £3,113/month net. After rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,156/month vs Leeds's £2,213/month.

Q: What salary in Leeds matches Edinburgh purchasing power?

Approximately £47,650 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,000 in Edinburgh, based on a COL index of 72 vs 66.

Q: Is Edinburgh or Leeds cheaper to live in?

Leeds is cheaper (COL 66 vs 72). Rent: Edinburgh £1,100/mo vs Leeds £900/mo.

Q: What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Edinburgh?

A ux designer in Edinburgh has a rent-to-income ratio of 34% (stretched). In Leeds the equivalent is 29%.

Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds ux designers have £57/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.

Edinburgh salary

£52,000

£3,256/mo take-home

Leeds salary

£47,000

£3,113/mo take-home

Leeds wins by

+£57

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Leeds

After paying rent, a ux designer in Leeds retains £57/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £684/year extra in purchasing power.

+£57

per month

Edinburgh

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £52,000

Net monthly £3,256

Rent (1-bed) £1,100

Rent-to-income 34% — Stretched

After rent £2,156

Leeds

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £47,000

Net monthly £3,113

Rent (1-bed) £900

Rent-to-income 29% — Comfortable

After rent £2,213

Edinburgh vs Leeds: what the £57/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Edinburgh ux designer roles pay £5,000/year more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £3,256/month versus £3,113/month in Leeds.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,213/month disposable income versus £2,156/month in Edinburgh — that is £684/year in real spending power.

Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 29% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 34%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category	Edinburgh	Leeds	Delta
Rent (1-bed median)	£1,100	£900	-18%
Transport	£62	£65	+5%
Council tax	£155	£112	-28%
Groceries	£280	£270	-4%
Disposable income remaining	£1,529	£1,631	+7%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 66 for Leeds, a salary of £52,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,650 in Leeds.

Edinburgh £52,000 ≈

£47,650

in Leeds

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 47%

Leeds 52%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino

Edinburgh £2.74

Leeds £2.51

Transit (single trip)

Edinburgh £1.48

Leeds £1.55

Gym membership

Edinburgh £40/mo

Leeds £36/mo

Cinema ticket

Edinburgh £11.52

Leeds £10.56

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Edinburgh or Leeds? +

Edinburgh pays a median £52,000 vs £47,000 in Leeds — a gross difference of £5,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals have £57/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.

What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Edinburgh vs Leeds? +

In Edinburgh: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home. In Leeds: gross £47,000 → £3,113/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,156/month vs Leeds's £2,213/month.

What salary in Leeds matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +

Approximately £47,650 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 66 (Leeds).

Is Edinburgh or Leeds cheaper to live in? +

Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Leeds.

What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Edinburgh? +

A ux designer in Edinburgh earning £52,000 takes home £3,256/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 34% (stretched). In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 29%.