Accountant (Qualified) · City comparison · 2026
Leeds vs London
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds accountant (qualified)s have £280/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
Leeds salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
London salary
£58,000
£3,683/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£280
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Leeds retains £280/month more than in London — that's £3,360/year extra in purchasing power.
+£280
per month
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£42,000
Net monthly
£2,813
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
32% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,913
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£58,000
Net monthly
£3,683
Rent (1-bed)
£2,050
Rent-to-income
56% — High pressure
After rent
£1,633
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds and 100 for London, a salary of £42,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £63,650 in London.
Leeds £42,000 ≈
£63,650
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Leeds
47%
London
22%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Leeds
£2.51
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Leeds or London? +
Leeds pays a median £42,000 vs £58,000 in London
— a gross difference of £16,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £280/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Leeds vs London? +
In Leeds: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
In London: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £1,913/month
vs London's £1,633/month.
What salary in London matches Leeds purchasing power? +
Approximately £63,650 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£42,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 100 (London).
Is Leeds or London cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Leeds? +
A accountant (qualified) in Leeds earning £42,000 takes home
£2,813/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 32%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 56%.