UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Liverpool

Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge ux designers have £27/month more disposable income after rent than their Liverpool counterparts.

Cambridge salary
£60,000
£3,780/mo take-home
Liverpool salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Cambridge wins by
+£27
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge

After paying rent, a ux designer in Cambridge retains £27/month more than in Liverpool — that's £324/year extra in purchasing power.

+£27
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
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 26% — Comfortable
After rent £2,253

Cambridge vs Liverpool: what the £27/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Cambridge ux designer roles pay £14,000/year more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,780/month versus £3,053/month in Liverpool.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,280/month disposable income versus £2,253/month in Liverpool — that is £324/year in real spending power.

Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 40% compares favourably to Liverpool's 26%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cambridge Liverpool Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,500 £800 -47%
Transport £75 £70 -7%
Council tax £155 £115 -26%
Groceries £300 £260 -13%
Disposable income remaining £1,610 £1,675 +4%

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 62 for Liverpool, a salary of £60,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,750 in Liverpool.

Cambridge £60,000 ≈
£42,750
in Liverpool

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cambridge 43%
Liverpool 55%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cambridge £3.31
Liverpool £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge £1.79
Liverpool £1.67
Gym membership
Cambridge £48/mo
Liverpool £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge £13.92
Liverpool £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Cambridge or Liverpool? +
Cambridge pays a median £60,000 vs £46,000 in Liverpool — a gross difference of £14,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals have £27/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 Liverpool? +
In Cambridge: gross £60,000£3,780/month net take-home. In Liverpool: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,280/month vs Liverpool's £2,253/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Cambridge purchasing power? +
Approximately £42,750 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £60,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of 87 (Cambridge) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Cambridge or Liverpool cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100). Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Liverpool.
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 Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 26%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cambridge and Liverpool

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

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