UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Exeter vs Nottingham

Nottingham wins on purchasing power. Nottingham ux designers have £270/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Exeter salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Nottingham wins by
+£270
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Nottingham

After paying rent, a ux designer in Nottingham retains £270/month more than in Exeter — that's £3,240/year extra in purchasing power.

+£270
per month
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,813
Rent (1-bed) £1,000
Rent-to-income 36% — Stretched
After rent £1,813
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £44,000
Net monthly £2,933
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 29% — Comfortable
After rent £2,083

Exeter vs Nottingham: what the £270/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Exeter ux designer roles pay £2,000/year less than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Exeter workers keep £2,813/month versus £2,933/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Nottingham workers have £2,083/month disposable income versus £1,813/month in Exeter — that is £3,240/year in real spending power.

Nottingham's rent-to-income ratio of 29% compares favourably to Exeter's 36%.

For ux designers prioritising financial freedom, Nottingham delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Exeter Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,000 £850 -15%
Transport £68 £58 -15%
Council tax £125 £118 -6%
Groceries £272 £260 -4%
Disposable income remaining £1,213 £1,514 +25%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 70 for Exeter and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £42,000 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £37,800 in Nottingham.

Exeter £42,000 ≈
£37,800
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Exeter 43%
Nottingham 52%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Exeter £2.66
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Exeter £1.62
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Exeter £39/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter £11.20
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Exeter or Nottingham? +
Exeter pays a median £42,000 vs £44,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Nottingham professionals have £270/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Exeter vs Nottingham? +
In Exeter: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £44,000£2,933/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,813/month vs Nottingham's £2,083/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Exeter purchasing power? +
Approximately £37,800 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of 70 (Exeter) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Exeter or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100). Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Exeter? +
A ux designer in Exeter earning £42,000 takes home £2,813/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,000/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 36% (stretched). In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 29%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Exeter and Nottingham

Afford Exeter on £40,000? Afford Nottingham on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Exeter → Nottingham Standard of living: UX Designer in Exeter Standard of living: UX Designer in Nottingham

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