Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Exeter

Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol data / business analysts have £250/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Bristol salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Exeter salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Bristol wins by
+£250
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Bristol

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Bristol retains £250/month more than in Exeter — that's £3,000/year extra in purchasing power.

+£250
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
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £36,000
Net monthly £2,453
Rent (1-bed) £1,000
Rent-to-income 41% — Stretched
After rent £1,453

Bristol vs Exeter: what the £250/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Bristol data / business analyst roles pay £10,000/year more than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,053/month versus £2,453/month in Exeter.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in, Bristol workers have £1,703/month disposable income versus £1,453/month in Exeter — that is £3,000/year in real spending power.

Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 44% compares favourably to Exeter's 41%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Exeter Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £1,000 -26%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £148 £125 -16%
Groceries £285 £272 -5%
Disposable income remaining £1,054 £853 -19%

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 70 for Exeter, a salary of £46,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,950 in Exeter.

Bristol £46,000 ≈
£42,950
in Exeter

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 35%
Exeter 35%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Exeter £2.66
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Exeter £1.62
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Exeter £39/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Exeter £11.20

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Bristol or Exeter? +
Bristol pays a median £46,000 vs £36,000 in Exeter — a gross difference of £10,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals have £250/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 Exeter? +
In Bristol: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. In Exeter: gross £36,000£2,453/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,703/month vs Exeter's £1,453/month.
What salary in Exeter matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £42,950 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 70 (Exeter).
Is Bristol or Exeter cheaper to live in? +
Exeter is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 70 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £1,000/month in Exeter.
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 Exeter the equivalent ratio is 41%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Exeter

Afford Bristol on £45,000? Afford Exeter on £35,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Exeter Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Bristol Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Exeter

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