Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Birmingham vs Nottingham

Birmingham wins on purchasing power. Birmingham data / business analysts have £210/month more disposable income after rent than their Nottingham counterparts.

Birmingham salary
£42,500
£2,843/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£39,000
£2,633/mo take-home
Birmingham wins by
+£210
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Birmingham

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Birmingham retains £210/month more than in Nottingham — that's £2,520/year extra in purchasing power.

+£210
per month
Birmingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,500
Net monthly £2,843
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 30% — Comfortable
After rent £1,993
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £39,000
Net monthly £2,633
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,783

Birmingham vs Nottingham: what the £210/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Birmingham data / business analyst roles pay £3,500/year more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Birmingham workers keep £2,843/month versus £2,633/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Birmingham rent runs £850/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Birmingham workers have £1,993/month disposable income versus £1,783/month in Nottingham — that is £2,520/year in real spending power.

Birmingham's rent-to-income ratio of 30% compares favourably to Nottingham's 32%.

For data / business analysts prioritising financial freedom, Birmingham delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Birmingham Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £850 £850 0%
Transport £65 £58 -11%
Council tax £118 £118 0%
Groceries £265 £260 -2%
Disposable income remaining £1,405 £1,214 -14%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 65 for Birmingham and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £42,500 in Birmingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,200 in Nottingham.

Birmingham £42,500 ≈
£41,200
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Birmingham 49%
Nottingham 46%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Birmingham £2.47
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Birmingham £1.55
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Birmingham £36/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Birmingham £10.40
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Birmingham or Nottingham? +
Birmingham pays a median £42,500 vs £39,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £3,500. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Birmingham professionals have £210/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Birmingham vs Nottingham? +
In Birmingham: gross £42,500£2,843/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £39,000£2,633/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Birmingham leaves £1,993/month vs Nottingham's £1,783/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Birmingham purchasing power? +
Approximately £41,200 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,500 in Birmingham, based on a cost-of-living index of 65 (Birmingham) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Birmingham or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 65 for Birmingham (London = 100). Rent in Birmingham averages £850/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Birmingham? +
A data / business analyst in Birmingham earning £42,500 takes home £2,843/month. With median 1-bed rent of £850/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 30% (comfortable). In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 32%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Birmingham and Nottingham

Afford Birmingham on £40,000? Afford Nottingham on £40,000? Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Birmingham Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Nottingham

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