Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Oxford

Oxford wins on purchasing power. Oxford data / business analysts have £191/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£42,000
£2,802/mo take-home
Oxford salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
Oxford wins by
+£191
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Oxford

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Oxford retains £191/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £2,292/year extra in purchasing power.

+£191
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
Oxford
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £52,000
Net monthly £3,393
Rent (1-bed) £1,450
Rent-to-income 43% — Stretched
After rent £1,943

Aberdeen vs Oxford: what the £191/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Aberdeen data / business analyst roles pay £10,000/year less than Oxford. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,802/month versus £3,393/month in Oxford.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,450/month in Oxford. Once housing costs are factored in, Oxford workers have £1,943/month disposable income versus £1,752/month in Aberdeen — that is £2,292/year in real spending power.

Oxford's rent-to-income ratio of 43% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 37%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Oxford Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £1,450 +38%
Transport £60 £80 +33%
Council tax £148 £155 +5%
Groceries £285 £300 +5%
Disposable income remaining £1,119 £1,268 +13%

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 85 for Oxford, a salary of £42,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £48,900 in Oxford.

Aberdeen £42,000 ≈
£48,900
in Oxford

Income retention after all essentials

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

Aberdeen 40%
Oxford 37%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Oxford £3.23
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Oxford £1.90
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Oxford £47/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Oxford £13.60

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Aberdeen or Oxford? +
Aberdeen pays a median £42,000 vs £52,000 in Oxford — a gross difference of £10,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Oxford professionals have £191/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 Oxford? +
In Aberdeen: gross £42,000£2,802/month net take-home. In Oxford: gross £52,000£3,393/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £1,752/month vs Oxford's £1,943/month.
What salary in Oxford matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £48,900 in Oxford delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 85 (Oxford).
Is Aberdeen or Oxford cheaper to live in? +
Aberdeen is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 73 vs 85 for Oxford (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £1,450/month in Oxford.
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 Oxford the equivalent ratio is 43%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Oxford

Afford Aberdeen on £40,000? Afford Oxford on £50,000? Salary equivalence: Aberdeen → Oxford Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Aberdeen Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Oxford

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