UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Leeds vs Sheffield

Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds ux designers have £45/month more disposable income after rent than their Sheffield counterparts.

Leeds salary
£47,000
£3,113/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£45,000
£2,993/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£45
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds

After paying rent, a ux designer in Leeds retains £45/month more than in Sheffield — that's £540/year extra in purchasing power.

+£45
per month
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £47,000
Net monthly £3,113
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 29% — Comfortable
After rent £2,213
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 Leeds Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £900 £825 -8%
Transport £65 £65 0%
Council tax £112 £126 +13%
Groceries £270 £265 -2%
Disposable income remaining £1,631 £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 66 for Leeds and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £47,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,850 in Sheffield.

Leeds £47,000 ≈
£44,850
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Leeds 52%
Sheffield 53%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leeds £2.51
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Leeds £1.55
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Leeds £36/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds £10.56
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Leeds or Sheffield? +
Leeds pays a median £47,000 vs £45,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals have £45/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Leeds vs Sheffield? +
In Leeds: gross £47,000£3,113/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £45,000£2,993/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £2,213/month vs Sheffield's £2,168/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Leeds purchasing power? +
Approximately £44,850 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of 66 (Leeds) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Leeds or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 66 for Leeds (London = 100). Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Leeds? +
A ux designer in Leeds earning £47,000 takes home £3,113/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 29% (comfortable). In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 28%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leeds and Sheffield

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