UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Leeds

Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge ux designers have £67/month more disposable income after rent than their Leeds counterparts.

Cambridge salary
£60,000
£3,780/mo take-home
Leeds salary
£47,000
£3,113/mo take-home
Cambridge wins by
+£67
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge

After paying rent, a ux designer in Cambridge retains £67/month more than in Leeds — that's £804/year extra in purchasing power.

+£67
per month
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £60,000
Net monthly £3,780
Rent (1-bed) £1,500
Rent-to-income 40% — Stretched
After rent £2,280
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

Cambridge vs Leeds: what the £67/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Cambridge ux designer roles pay £13,000/year more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,780/month versus £3,113/month in Leeds.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,280/month disposable income versus £2,213/month in Leeds — that is £804/year in real spending power.

Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 40% compares favourably to Leeds's 29%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cambridge Leeds Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,500 £900 -40%
Transport £75 £65 -13%
Council tax £155 £112 -28%
Groceries £300 £270 -10%
Disposable income remaining £1,610 £1,631 +1%

Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge and 66 for Leeds, a salary of £60,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £45,500 in Leeds.

Cambridge £60,000 ≈
£45,500
in Leeds

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cambridge 43%
Leeds 52%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cambridge £3.31
Leeds £2.51
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge £1.79
Leeds £1.55
Gym membership
Cambridge £48/mo
Leeds £36/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge £13.92
Leeds £10.56

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Cambridge or Leeds? +
Cambridge pays a median £60,000 vs £47,000 in Leeds — a gross difference of £13,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals have £67/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Cambridge vs Leeds? +
In Cambridge: gross £60,000£3,780/month net take-home. In Leeds: gross £47,000£3,113/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,280/month vs Leeds's £2,213/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Cambridge purchasing power? +
Approximately £45,500 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £60,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of 87 (Cambridge) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Cambridge or Leeds cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100). Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Leeds.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Cambridge? +
A ux designer in Cambridge earning £60,000 takes home £3,780/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,500/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 40% (stretched). In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 29%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cambridge and Leeds

Afford Cambridge on £60,000? Afford Leeds on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Cambridge → Leeds Standard of living: UX Designer in Cambridge Standard of living: UX Designer in Leeds

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