Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Leicester

Leicester wins on purchasing power. Leicester data / business analysts have £70/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Leicester salary
£38,000
£2,573/mo take-home
Leicester wins by
+£70
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leicester

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Leicester retains £70/month more than in Bristol — that's £840/year extra in purchasing power.

+£70
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
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £38,000
Net monthly £2,573
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £1,773

Bristol vs Leicester: what the £70/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Bristol data / business analyst roles pay £8,000/year more than Leicester. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,053/month versus £2,573/month in Leicester.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £800/month in Leicester. Once housing costs are factored in, Leicester workers have £1,773/month disposable income versus £1,703/month in Bristol — that is £840/year in real spending power.

Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 31% compares favourably to Bristol's 44%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Leicester Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £800 -41%
Transport £80 £62 -22%
Council tax £148 £118 -20%
Groceries £285 £258 -9%
Disposable income remaining £1,054 £1,202 +14%

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 63 for Leicester, a salary of £46,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,650 in Leicester.

Bristol £46,000 ≈
£38,650
in Leicester

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 35%
Leicester 47%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Leicester £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Leicester £1.48
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Leicester £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Leicester £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Bristol or Leicester? +
Bristol pays a median £46,000 vs £38,000 in Leicester — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals have £70/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 Leicester? +
In Bristol: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. In Leicester: gross £38,000£2,573/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,703/month vs Leicester's £1,773/month.
What salary in Leicester matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £38,650 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 63 (Leicester).
Is Bristol or Leicester cheaper to live in? +
Leicester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Leicester.
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 Leicester the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Leicester

Afford Bristol on £45,000? Afford Leicester on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Leicester Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Bristol Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Leicester

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