UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Liverpool

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool ux designers have £97/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.

Edinburgh salary
£52,000
£3,256/mo take-home
Liverpool salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£97
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a ux designer in Liverpool retains £97/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £1,164/year extra in purchasing power.

+£97
per month
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £52,000
Net monthly £3,256
Rent (1-bed) £1,100
Rent-to-income 34% — Stretched
After rent £2,156
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

Edinburgh vs Liverpool: what the £97/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Edinburgh ux designer roles pay £6,000/year more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £3,256/month versus £3,053/month in Liverpool.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £2,253/month disposable income versus £2,156/month in Edinburgh — that is £1,164/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 26% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 34%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Edinburgh Liverpool Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,100 £800 -27%
Transport £62 £70 +13%
Council tax £155 £115 -26%
Groceries £280 £260 -7%
Disposable income remaining £1,529 £1,675 +10%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 62 for Liverpool, a salary of £52,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,800 in Liverpool.

Edinburgh £52,000 ≈
£44,800
in Liverpool

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 47%
Liverpool 55%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Edinburgh £2.74
Liverpool £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh £1.48
Liverpool £1.67
Gym membership
Edinburgh £40/mo
Liverpool £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh £11.52
Liverpool £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Edinburgh or Liverpool? +
Edinburgh pays a median £52,000 vs £46,000 in Liverpool — a gross difference of £6,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool 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 Edinburgh vs Liverpool? +
In Edinburgh: gross £52,000£3,256/month net take-home. In Liverpool: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,156/month vs Liverpool's £2,253/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £44,800 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Edinburgh or Liverpool cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Edinburgh? +
A ux designer in Edinburgh earning £52,000 takes home £3,256/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 34% (stretched). In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 26%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Edinburgh and Liverpool

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