Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh
After paying rent, a ux designer in Edinburgh retains
£163/month more than in Brighton —
that's £1,956/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,393
Rent (1-bed)
£1,400
Rent-to-income
41% — Stretched
After rent
£1,993
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
Brighton vs Edinburgh: what the £163/month gap means for a ux designer
On paper, Brighton ux designer roles pay £0/year
more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £3,393/month versus
£3,256/month in Edinburgh.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month
versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in,
Edinburgh workers have £2,156/month
disposable income versus £1,993/month in Brighton —
that is £1,956/year in real spending power.
Edinburgh's rent-to-income ratio of 34%
compares favourably to Brighton's 41%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Brighton |
Edinburgh |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,400 |
£1,100 |
-21% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£62 |
-22% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£155 |
0% |
| Groceries |
£295 |
£280 |
-5% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,323 |
£1,529 |
+16% |
Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton
and 72 for Edinburgh,
a salary of £52,000 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £45,650 in Edinburgh.
Brighton £52,000 ≈
£45,650
in Edinburgh
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
Brighton
£3.12
Edinburgh
£2.74
Transit (single trip)
Brighton
£1.90
Edinburgh
£1.48
Gym membership
Brighton
£45/mo
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton
£13.12
Edinburgh
£11.52
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Frequently asked questions
Does a ux designer earn more in Brighton or Edinburgh?
+
Brighton pays a median £52,000 vs £52,000 in Edinburgh
— a gross difference of £0.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals
have £163/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Brighton vs Edinburgh?
+
In Brighton: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
In Edinburgh: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £1,993/month
vs Edinburgh's £2,156/month.
What salary in Edinburgh matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £45,650 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£52,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of
82 (Brighton) vs 72 (Edinburgh).
Is Brighton or Edinburgh cheaper to live in?
+
Edinburgh is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 72 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100).
Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed)
vs £1,100/month in Edinburgh.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Brighton?
+
A ux designer in Brighton earning £52,000 takes home
£3,393/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 41%
(stretched).
In Edinburgh the equivalent ratio is 34%.