Winner on purchasing power
York
After paying rent, a ux designer in York retains
£197/month more than in London —
that's £2,364/year extra in purchasing power.
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
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£62,000
Net monthly
£3,876
Rent (1-bed)
£2,150
Rent-to-income
55% — High pressure
After rent
£1,726
York vs London: what the £197/month gap means for a ux designer
On paper, York ux designer roles pay £19,000/year
less than London. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — York workers keep £2,873/month versus
£3,876/month in London.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average York rent runs £950/month
versus £2,150/month in London. Once housing costs are factored in,
York workers have £1,923/month
disposable income versus £1,726/month in London —
that is £2,364/year in real spending power.
York's rent-to-income ratio of 33%
compares favourably to London's 55%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
York |
London |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£950 |
£2,150 |
+126% |
| Transport |
£68 |
£185 |
+172% |
| Council tax |
£120 |
£165 |
+38% |
| Groceries |
£270 |
£320 |
+19% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,330 |
£914 |
-31% |
Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 68 for York
and 100 for London,
a salary of £43,000 in York delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £63,250 in London.
York £43,000 ≈
£63,250
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
York
£2.58
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
York
£1.62
London
£4.40
Gym membership
York
£37/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
York
£10.88
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a ux designer earn more in York or London?
+
York pays a median £43,000 vs £62,000 in London
— a gross difference of £19,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, York professionals
have £197/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a ux designer in York vs London?
+
In York: gross £43,000 → £2,873/month net take-home.
In London: gross £62,000 → £3,876/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, York leaves £1,923/month
vs London's £1,726/month.
What salary in London matches York purchasing power?
+
Approximately £63,250 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£43,000 in York, based on a cost-of-living index of
68 (York) vs 100 (London).
Is York or London cheaper to live in?
+
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in York averages £950/month (1-bed)
vs £2,150/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a ux designer in York?
+
A ux designer in York earning £43,000 takes home
£2,873/month. With median 1-bed rent of £950/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 33%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 55%.