UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs York

Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol ux designers have £20/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Bristol salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
York salary
£43,000
£2,873/mo take-home
Bristol wins by
+£20
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Bristol

After paying rent, a ux designer in Bristol retains £20/month more than in York — that's £240/year extra in purchasing power.

+£20
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £43,000
Net monthly £2,873
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 33% — Comfortable
After rent £1,923

Bristol vs York: what the £20/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Bristol ux designer roles pay £7,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,293/month versus £2,873/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Bristol workers have £1,943/month disposable income versus £1,923/month in York — that is £240/year in real spending power.

Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 41% compares favourably to York's 33%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £950 -30%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £148 £120 -19%
Groceries £285 £270 -5%
Disposable income remaining £1,294 £1,330 +3%

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 68 for York, a salary of £50,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £45,350 in York.

Bristol £50,000 ≈
£45,350
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 39%
York 46%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
York £1.62
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
York £10.88

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Bristol or York? +
Bristol pays a median £50,000 vs £43,000 in York — a gross difference of £7,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals have £20/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 York? +
In Bristol: gross £50,000£3,293/month net take-home. In York: gross £43,000£2,873/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,943/month vs York's £1,923/month.
What salary in York matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £45,350 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £50,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 68 (York).
Is Bristol or York cheaper to live in? +
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 33%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and York

Afford Bristol on £50,000? Afford York on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → York Standard of living: UX Designer in Bristol Standard of living: UX Designer in York

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