Salary Equivalence · Aberdeen → Leeds · 2026

What does £55,000 in Aberdeen
equal in Leeds?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Aberdeen 73 vs Leeds 66, London = 100), £55,000 in Aberdeen has the same purchasing power as approximately £49,750 in Leeds. Leeds is 10% cheaper overall.

Aberdeen salary
£55,000
COL index 73
Leeds equivalent
£49,750
COL index 66
COL difference
10%
Leeds is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Leeds
£49,750
= £55,000 in Aberdeen after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 73 → 66 (London = 100)

Why £55,000 in Aberdeen equals £49,750 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 £49,750 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £49,750 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 £49,750 in Leeds is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Aberdeen → Leeds

£50,000 → £45,200 £60,000 → £54,250 £65,000 → £58,750

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Leeds matches £55,000 in Aberdeen? +
£49,750 in Leeds provides the same purchasing power as £55,000 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: £55,000 × (66 ÷ 73) = £49,750. 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 £49,750 in Leeds is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Aberdeen salary of £55,000. You'd also save £150/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

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