Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Edinburgh

Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh data / business analysts have £111/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Edinburgh salary
£44,000
£2,914/mo take-home
Edinburgh wins by
+£111
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Edinburgh retains £111/month more than in Bristol — that's £1,332/year extra in purchasing power.

+£111
per month
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
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £44,000
Net monthly £2,914
Rent (1-bed) £1,100
Rent-to-income 38% — Stretched
After rent £1,814

Bristol vs Edinburgh: what the £111/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Bristol data / business analyst roles pay £2,000/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,053/month versus £2,914/month in Edinburgh.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Edinburgh workers have £1,814/month disposable income versus £1,703/month in Bristol — that is £1,332/year in real spending power.

Edinburgh's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Bristol's 44%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Edinburgh Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £1,100 -19%
Transport £80 £62 -22%
Council tax £148 £155 +5%
Groceries £285 £280 -2%
Disposable income remaining £1,054 £1,187 +13%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £46,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,150 in Edinburgh.

Bristol £46,000 ≈
£44,150
in Edinburgh

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 35%
Edinburgh 41%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Edinburgh £2.74
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Edinburgh £1.48
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Edinburgh £40/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Edinburgh £11.52

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Bristol or Edinburgh? +
Bristol pays a median £46,000 vs £44,000 in Edinburgh — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals have £111/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Bristol vs Edinburgh? +
In Bristol: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. In Edinburgh: gross £44,000£2,914/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,703/month vs Edinburgh's £1,814/month.
What salary in Edinburgh matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £44,150 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 72 (Edinburgh).
Is Bristol or Edinburgh cheaper to live in? +
Edinburgh is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 72 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £1,100/month in Edinburgh.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Bristol? +
A data / business analyst in Bristol earning £46,000 takes home £3,053/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 44% (stretched). In Edinburgh the equivalent ratio is 38%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Edinburgh

Afford Bristol on £45,000? Afford Edinburgh on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Edinburgh Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Bristol Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Edinburgh

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