UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Exeter

Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol ux designers have £130/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Bristol salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
Exeter salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Bristol wins by
+£130
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Bristol

After paying rent, a ux designer in Bristol retains £130/month more than in Exeter — that's £1,560/year extra in purchasing power.

+£130
per month
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £50,000
Net monthly £3,293
Rent (1-bed) £1,350
Rent-to-income 41% — Stretched
After rent £1,943
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,813
Rent (1-bed) £1,000
Rent-to-income 36% — Stretched
After rent £1,813

Bristol vs Exeter: what the £130/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Bristol ux designer roles pay £8,000/year more than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,293/month versus £2,813/month in Exeter.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in, Bristol workers have £1,943/month disposable income versus £1,813/month in Exeter — that is £1,560/year in real spending power.

Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 41% compares favourably to Exeter's 36%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Exeter Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £1,000 -26%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £148 £125 -16%
Groceries £285 £272 -5%
Disposable income remaining £1,294 £1,213 -6%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 70 for Exeter, a salary of £50,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,650 in Exeter.

Bristol £50,000 ≈
£46,650
in Exeter

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 39%
Exeter 43%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Exeter £2.66
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Exeter £1.62
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Exeter £39/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Exeter £11.20

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Bristol or Exeter? +
Bristol pays a median £50,000 vs £42,000 in Exeter — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals have £130/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Bristol vs Exeter? +
In Bristol: gross £50,000£3,293/month net take-home. In Exeter: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,943/month vs Exeter's £1,813/month.
What salary in Exeter matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,650 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £50,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 70 (Exeter).
Is Bristol or Exeter cheaper to live in? +
Exeter is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 70 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £1,000/month in Exeter.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Bristol? +
A ux designer in Bristol earning £50,000 takes home £3,293/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 41% (stretched). In Exeter the equivalent ratio is 36%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Exeter

Afford Bristol on £50,000? Afford Exeter on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Exeter Standard of living: UX Designer in Bristol Standard of living: UX Designer in Exeter

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge