Salary Equivalence · Bristol → Sheffield · 2026

What does £25,000 in Bristol
equal in Sheffield?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Bristol 75 vs Sheffield 63, London = 100), £25,000 in Bristol has the same purchasing power as approximately £21,000 in Sheffield. Sheffield is 16% cheaper overall.

Bristol salary
£25,000
COL index 75
Sheffield equivalent
£21,000
COL index 63
COL difference
16%
Sheffield is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Sheffield
£21,000
= £25,000 in Bristol after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 75 → 63 (London = 100)

Why £25,000 in Bristol equals £21,000 in Sheffield

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Bristol rent averages £1,350/month versus £825/month in Sheffield — a £525/month saving. Beyond rent, Sheffield is overall 16% cheaper across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 63 vs Bristol's 75).

To achieve the same disposable income in Sheffield, you would need to earn £21,000 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £21,000 in Sheffield is a real-terms pay rise.

Cost Comparison — Bristol vs Sheffield

Metric Bristol Sheffield Difference
COL index 75 63 −12 pts
1-bed rent £1,350/mo £825/mo −£525/mo
Monthly rent saving — — £525/mo
Annual rent saving — — £6,300/yr

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

Relocation Financial Impact

Moving from Bristol to Sheffield saves £525/month on rent alone (£1,350 → £825/mo).

£6,300/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 16% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £21,000 in Sheffield is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Bristol → Sheffield

£30,000 → £25,200 £35,000 → £29,400

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Sheffield matches £25,000 in Bristol? +
£21,000 in Sheffield provides the same purchasing power as £25,000 in Bristol. This is based on Bristol's COL index of 75 vs Sheffield's 63 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 16% cost difference translates directly to a 16% lower equivalent salary.
Is Sheffield significantly cheaper than Bristol? +
Sheffield is 16% cheaper overall than Bristol. The most visible difference is rent: Bristol averages £1,350/month for a 1-bed flat vs £825/month in Sheffield — a saving of £525/month (£6,300/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: £25,000 × (63 ÷ 75) = £21,000. 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 Bristol to Sheffield? +
Financially, yes — up to 16% less. Any offer above £21,000 in Sheffield is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Bristol salary of £25,000. You'd also save £525/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

Related Pages

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