Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Oxford

Oxford wins on purchasing power. Oxford data / business analysts have £330/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.

Cardiff salary
£37,000
£2,513/mo take-home
Oxford salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
Oxford wins by
+£330
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Oxford

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Oxford retains £330/month more than in Cardiff — that's £3,960/year extra in purchasing power.

+£330
per month
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £37,000
Net monthly £2,513
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 36% — Stretched
After rent £1,613
Oxford
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £52,000
Net monthly £3,393
Rent (1-bed) £1,450
Rent-to-income 43% — Stretched
After rent £1,943

Cardiff vs Oxford: what the £330/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Cardiff data / business analyst roles pay £15,000/year less than Oxford. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,513/month versus £3,393/month in Oxford.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month versus £1,450/month in Oxford. Once housing costs are factored in, Oxford workers have £1,943/month disposable income versus £1,613/month in Cardiff — that is £3,960/year in real spending power.

Oxford's rent-to-income ratio of 43% compares favourably to Cardiff's 36%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cardiff Oxford Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £900 £1,450 +61%
Transport £50 £80 +60%
Council tax £132 £155 +17%
Groceries £255 £300 +18%
Disposable income remaining £1,043 £1,268 +22%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 85 for Oxford, a salary of £37,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £49,150 in Oxford.

Cardiff £37,000 ≈
£49,150
in Oxford

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cardiff 42%
Oxford 37%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cardiff £2.43
Oxford £3.23
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff £1.19
Oxford £1.90
Gym membership
Cardiff £35/mo
Oxford £47/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff £10.24
Oxford £13.60

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Cardiff or Oxford? +
Cardiff pays a median £37,000 vs £52,000 in Oxford — a gross difference of £15,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Oxford professionals have £330/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Cardiff vs Oxford? +
In Cardiff: gross £37,000£2,513/month net take-home. In Oxford: gross £52,000£3,393/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,613/month vs Oxford's £1,943/month.
What salary in Oxford matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £49,150 in Oxford delivers equivalent purchasing power to £37,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of 64 (Cardiff) vs 85 (Oxford).
Is Cardiff or Oxford cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 85 for Oxford (London = 100). Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed) vs £1,450/month in Oxford.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Cardiff? +
A data / business analyst in Cardiff earning £37,000 takes home £2,513/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 36% (stretched). In Oxford the equivalent ratio is 43%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cardiff and Oxford

Afford Cardiff on £35,000? Afford Oxford on £50,000? Salary equivalence: Cardiff → Oxford Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Cardiff Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Oxford

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