Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Bristol

Aberdeen wins on purchasing power. Aberdeen data / business analysts have £49/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£42,000
£2,802/mo take-home
Bristol salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Aberdeen wins by
+£49
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Aberdeen

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Aberdeen retains £49/month more than in Bristol — that's £588/year extra in purchasing power.

+£49
per month
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,802
Rent (1-bed) £1,050
Rent-to-income 37% — Stretched
After rent £1,752
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £1,350
Rent-to-income 44% — Stretched
After rent £1,703

Aberdeen vs Bristol: what the £49/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Aberdeen data / business analyst roles pay £4,000/year less than Bristol. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,802/month versus £3,053/month in Bristol.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,350/month in Bristol. Once housing costs are factored in, Aberdeen workers have £1,752/month disposable income versus £1,703/month in Bristol — that is £588/year in real spending power.

Aberdeen's rent-to-income ratio of 37% compares favourably to Bristol's 44%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Bristol Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £1,350 +29%
Transport £60 £80 +33%
Council tax £148 £148 0%
Groceries £285 £285 0%
Disposable income remaining £1,119 £1,054 -6%

Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 75 for Bristol, a salary of £42,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £43,150 in Bristol.

Aberdeen £42,000 ≈
£43,150
in Bristol

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Aberdeen 40%
Bristol 35%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Bristol £2.85
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Bristol £1.90
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Bristol £41/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Bristol £12.00

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Aberdeen or Bristol? +
Aberdeen pays a median £42,000 vs £46,000 in Bristol — a gross difference of £4,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Aberdeen professionals have £49/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Aberdeen vs Bristol? +
In Aberdeen: gross £42,000£2,802/month net take-home. In Bristol: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £1,752/month vs Bristol's £1,703/month.
What salary in Bristol matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £43,150 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 75 (Bristol).
Is Aberdeen or Bristol cheaper to live in? +
Aberdeen is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 73 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £1,350/month in Bristol.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Aberdeen? +
A data / business analyst in Aberdeen earning £42,000 takes home £2,802/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 37% (stretched). In Bristol the equivalent ratio is 44%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Bristol

Afford Aberdeen on £40,000? Afford Bristol on £45,000? Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Aberdeen Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Bristol

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge