Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge
After paying rent, a ux designer in Cambridge retains
£97/month more than in Newcastle —
that's £1,164/year extra in purchasing power.
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
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
Cambridge vs Newcastle: what the £97/month gap means for a ux designer
On paper, Cambridge ux designer roles pay £16,000/year
more than Newcastle. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,780/month versus
£2,933/month in Newcastle.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month
versus £750/month in Newcastle. Once housing costs are factored in,
Cambridge workers have £2,280/month
disposable income versus £2,183/month in Newcastle —
that is £1,164/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 40%
compares favourably to Newcastle's 26%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cambridge |
Newcastle |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,500 |
£750 |
-50% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£75 |
0% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£112 |
-28% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£255 |
-15% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,610 |
£1,609 |
0% |
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 61 for Newcastle,
a salary of £60,000 in Cambridge delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £42,050 in Newcastle.
Cambridge £60,000 ≈
£42,050
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
Cambridge
£3.31
Newcastle
£2.32
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge
£1.79
Newcastle
£1.79
Gym membership
Cambridge
£48/mo
Newcastle
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge
£13.92
Newcastle
£9.76
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Frequently asked questions
Does a ux designer earn more in Cambridge or Newcastle?
+
Cambridge pays a median £60,000 vs £44,000 in Newcastle
— a gross difference of £16,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals
have £97/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 Newcastle?
+
In Cambridge: gross £60,000 → £3,780/month net take-home.
In Newcastle: gross £44,000 → £2,933/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,280/month
vs Newcastle's £2,183/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches Cambridge purchasing power?
+
Approximately £42,050 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£60,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of
87 (Cambridge) vs 61 (Newcastle).
Is Cambridge or Newcastle cheaper to live in?
+
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100).
Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed)
vs £750/month in Newcastle.
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 Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 26%.