Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Exeter

Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh data / business analysts have £361/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Edinburgh salary
£44,000
£2,914/mo take-home
Exeter salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Edinburgh wins by
+£361
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Edinburgh retains £361/month more than in Exeter — that's £4,332/year extra in purchasing power.

+£361
per month
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
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

Edinburgh vs Exeter: what the £361/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Edinburgh data / business analyst roles pay £8,000/year more than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,914/month versus £2,453/month in Exeter.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in, Edinburgh workers have £1,814/month disposable income versus £1,453/month in Exeter — that is £4,332/year in real spending power.

Edinburgh's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Exeter's 41%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Edinburgh Exeter Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,100 £1,000 -9%
Transport £62 £68 +10%
Council tax £155 £125 -19%
Groceries £280 £272 -3%
Disposable income remaining £1,187 £853 -28%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 70 for Exeter, a salary of £44,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,800 in Exeter.

Edinburgh £44,000 ≈
£42,800
in Exeter

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 41%
Exeter 35%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Edinburgh £2.74
Exeter £2.66
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh £1.48
Exeter £1.62
Gym membership
Edinburgh £40/mo
Exeter £39/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh £11.52
Exeter £11.20

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Edinburgh or Exeter? +
Edinburgh pays a median £44,000 vs £36,000 in Exeter — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals have £361/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Edinburgh vs Exeter? +
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000£2,914/month net take-home. In Exeter: gross £36,000£2,453/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,814/month vs Exeter's £1,453/month.
What salary in Exeter matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £42,800 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 70 (Exeter).
Is Edinburgh or Exeter cheaper to live in? +
Exeter is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 70 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £1,000/month in Exeter.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Edinburgh? +
A data / business analyst in Edinburgh earning £44,000 takes home £2,914/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 38% (stretched). In Exeter the equivalent ratio is 41%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Edinburgh and Exeter

Afford Edinburgh on £45,000? Afford Exeter on £35,000? Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Edinburgh 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