Winner on purchasing power
Newcastle
After paying rent, a ux designer in Newcastle retains
£190/month more than in Brighton —
that's £2,280/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
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£44,000
Net monthly
£2,933
Rent (1-bed)
£750
Rent-to-income
26% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,183
Brighton vs Newcastle: what the £190/month gap means for a ux designer
On paper, Brighton ux designer roles pay £8,000/year
more than Newcastle. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £3,393/month versus
£2,933/month in Newcastle.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month
versus £750/month in Newcastle. Once housing costs are factored in,
Newcastle workers have £2,183/month
disposable income versus £1,993/month in Brighton —
that is £2,280/year in real spending power.
Newcastle's rent-to-income ratio of 26%
compares favourably to Brighton's 41%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Brighton |
Newcastle |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,400 |
£750 |
-46% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£75 |
-6% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£112 |
-28% |
| Groceries |
£295 |
£255 |
-14% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,323 |
£1,609 |
+22% |
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 61 for Newcastle,
a salary of £52,000 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £38,700 in Newcastle.
Brighton £52,000 ≈
£38,700
in Newcastle
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
Newcastle
£2.32
Transit (single trip)
Brighton
£1.90
Newcastle
£1.79
Gym membership
Brighton
£45/mo
Newcastle
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton
£13.12
Newcastle
£9.76
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Frequently asked questions
Does a ux designer earn more in Brighton or Newcastle?
+
Brighton pays a median £52,000 vs £44,000 in Newcastle
— a gross difference of £8,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Newcastle professionals
have £190/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 Newcastle?
+
In Brighton: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
In Newcastle: gross £44,000 → £2,933/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £1,993/month
vs Newcastle's £2,183/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £38,700 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£52,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of
82 (Brighton) vs 61 (Newcastle).
Is Brighton or Newcastle cheaper to live in?
+
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100).
Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed)
vs £750/month in Newcastle.
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 Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 26%.