Salary Equivalence · Aberdeen → Leeds · 2026

What does £30,000 in Aberdeen
equal in Leeds?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Aberdeen 73 vs Leeds 66, London = 100), £30,000 in Aberdeen has the same purchasing power as approximately £27,100 in Leeds. Leeds is 10% cheaper overall.

Aberdeen salary
£30,000
COL index 73
Leeds equivalent
£27,100
COL index 66
COL difference
10%
Leeds is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Leeds
£27,100
= £30,000 in Aberdeen after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 73 → 66 (London = 100)

Why £30,000 in Aberdeen equals £27,100 in Leeds

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Aberdeen rent averages £1,050/month versus £900/month in Leeds — a £150/month saving. Beyond rent, Leeds is overall 10% cheaper across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 66 vs Aberdeen's 73).

To achieve the same disposable income in Leeds, you would need to earn £27,100 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £27,100 in Leeds is a real-terms pay rise.

Cost Comparison — Aberdeen vs Leeds

Metric Aberdeen Leeds Difference
COL index 73 66 −7 pts
1-bed rent £1,050/mo £900/mo −£150/mo
Monthly rent saving — — £150/mo
Annual rent saving — — £1,800/yr

COL indices from Numbeo 2025 (London = 100). Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median for a 1-bed flat.

Relocation Financial Impact

Moving from Aberdeen to Leeds saves £150/month on rent alone (£1,050 → £900/mo).

£1,800/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 10% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £27,100 in Leeds is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Aberdeen → Leeds

£25,000 → £22,600 £35,000 → £31,650 £40,000 → £36,150

Tools for Relocating

Recommended
Amex Gold
Earn Membership Rewards on moving costs and everyday spending.
Apply Now
Popular
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on purchases. Great for frequent travel between cities during a relocation.
Apply Now
Fee-free
Chase Cashback
1% cashback on all debit card spending. No annual fee — handy while settling into a new city.
Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Leeds matches £30,000 in Aberdeen? +
£27,100 in Leeds provides the same purchasing power as £30,000 in Aberdeen. This is based on Aberdeen's COL index of 73 vs Leeds's 66 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 10% cost difference translates directly to a 10% lower equivalent salary.
Is Leeds significantly cheaper than Aberdeen? +
Leeds is 10% cheaper overall than Aberdeen. The most visible difference is rent: Aberdeen averages £1,050/month for a 1-bed flat vs £900/month in Leeds — a saving of £150/month (£1,800/year).
How is the salary equivalence calculated? +
SalaryDex uses city-level cost-of-living indices from Numbeo 2025, normalised so London = 100. The formula is: equivalent = salary × (cityB COL ÷ cityA COL). For this page: £30,000 × (66 ÷ 73) = £27,100. The index captures overall cost differences including rent, food, transport, utilities and services. It does not account for individual tax positions or lifestyle choices.
Should I accept a lower salary to move from Aberdeen to Leeds? +
Financially, yes — up to 10% less. Any offer above £27,100 in Leeds is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Aberdeen salary of £30,000. You'd also save £150/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

Related Pages

Compare Aberdeen vs Leeds Afford Leeds on £25,000? Afford Aberdeen on £30,000? Reverse: £27,100 in Leeds → Aberdeen Software Engineer salary in Aberdeen Software Engineer salary in Leeds