Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge
After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Cambridge retains
£97/month more than in Liverpool —
that's £1,164/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£54,000
Net monthly
£3,490
Rent (1-bed)
£1,500
Rent-to-income
43% — Stretched
After rent
£1,990
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,693
Rent (1-bed)
£800
Rent-to-income
30% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,893
Cambridge vs Liverpool: what the £97/month gap means for a data / business analyst
On paper, Cambridge data / business analyst roles pay £14,000/year
more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,490/month versus
£2,693/month in Liverpool.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month
versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in,
Cambridge workers have £1,990/month
disposable income versus £1,893/month in Liverpool —
that is £1,164/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 43%
compares favourably to Liverpool's 30%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cambridge |
Liverpool |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,500 |
£800 |
-47% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£70 |
-7% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£115 |
-26% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£260 |
-13% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,320 |
£1,315 |
0% |
Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge
and 62 for Liverpool,
a salary of £54,000 in Cambridge delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £38,500 in Liverpool.
Cambridge £54,000 ≈
£38,500
in Liverpool
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cambridge
£3.31
Liverpool
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge
£1.79
Liverpool
£1.67
Gym membership
Cambridge
£48/mo
Liverpool
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge
£13.92
Liverpool
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data / business analyst earn more in Cambridge or Liverpool?
+
Cambridge pays a median £54,000 vs £40,000 in Liverpool
— a gross difference of £14,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals
have £97/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Cambridge vs Liverpool?
+
In Cambridge: gross £54,000 → £3,490/month net take-home.
In Liverpool: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £1,990/month
vs Liverpool's £1,893/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Cambridge purchasing power?
+
Approximately £38,500 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£54,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of
87 (Cambridge) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Cambridge or Liverpool cheaper to live in?
+
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100).
Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed)
vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Cambridge?
+
A data / business analyst in Cambridge earning £54,000 takes home
£3,490/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,500/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 43%
(stretched).
In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 30%.