UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Sheffield

Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield ux designers have £12/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.

Edinburgh salary
£52,000
£3,256/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£45,000
£2,993/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£12
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield

After paying rent, a ux designer in Sheffield retains £12/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £144/year extra in purchasing power.

+£12
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £45,000
Net monthly £2,993
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 28% — Comfortable
After rent £2,168

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Edinburgh Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,100 £825 -25%
Transport £62 £65 +5%
Council tax £155 £126 -19%
Groceries £280 £265 -5%
Disposable income remaining £1,529 £1,578 +3%

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 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £52,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £45,500 in Sheffield.

Edinburgh £52,000 ≈
£45,500
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 47%
Sheffield 53%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Edinburgh £2.74
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh £1.48
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Edinburgh £40/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh £11.52
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Edinburgh or Sheffield? +
Edinburgh pays a median £52,000 vs £45,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £7,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals have £12/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 Sheffield? +
In Edinburgh: gross £52,000£3,256/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £45,000£2,993/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,156/month vs Sheffield's £2,168/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £45,500 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Edinburgh or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 28%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Edinburgh and Sheffield

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