UX Designer · City comparison · 2026

Liverpool vs York

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool ux designers have £330/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Liverpool salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
York salary
£43,000
£2,873/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£330
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a ux designer in Liverpool retains £330/month more than in York — that's £3,960/year extra in purchasing power.

+£330
per month
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £43,000
Net monthly £2,873
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 33% — Comfortable
After rent £1,923

Liverpool vs York: what the £330/month gap means for a ux designer

On paper, Liverpool ux designer roles pay £3,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Liverpool workers keep £3,053/month versus £2,873/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Liverpool rent runs £800/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £2,253/month disposable income versus £1,923/month in York — that is £3,960/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 26% compares favourably to York's 33%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Liverpool York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £950 +19%
Transport £70 £68 -3%
Council tax £115 £120 +4%
Groceries £260 £270 +4%
Disposable income remaining £1,675 £1,330 -21%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 62 for Liverpool and 68 for York, a salary of £46,000 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £50,450 in York.

Liverpool £46,000 ≈
£50,450
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Liverpool 55%
York 46%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Liverpool £2.36
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Liverpool £1.67
York £1.62
Gym membership
Liverpool £34/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Liverpool £9.92
York £10.88

Financial tools

Popular products for UK earners

Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now

Frequently asked questions

Does a ux designer earn more in Liverpool or York? +
Liverpool pays a median £46,000 vs £43,000 in York — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals have £330/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in Liverpool vs York? +
In Liverpool: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. In York: gross £43,000£2,873/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Liverpool leaves £2,253/month vs York's £1,923/month.
What salary in York matches Liverpool purchasing power? +
Approximately £50,450 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,000 in Liverpool, based on a cost-of-living index of 62 (Liverpool) vs 68 (York).
Is Liverpool or York cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 68 for York (London = 100). Rent in Liverpool averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in Liverpool? +
A ux designer in Liverpool earning £46,000 takes home £3,053/month. With median 1-bed rent of £800/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 26% (comfortable). In York the equivalent ratio is 33%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Liverpool and York

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

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