Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs York

Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh data / business analysts have £251/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Edinburgh salary
£44,000
£2,914/mo take-home
York salary
£37,000
£2,513/mo take-home
Edinburgh wins by
+£251
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Edinburgh retains £251/month more than in York — that's £3,012/year extra in purchasing power.

+£251
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £37,000
Net monthly £2,513
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 38% — Stretched
After rent £1,563

Edinburgh vs York: what the £251/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Edinburgh data / business analyst roles pay £7,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,914/month versus £2,513/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Edinburgh workers have £1,814/month disposable income versus £1,563/month in York — that is £3,012/year in real spending power.

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

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 York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,100 £950 -14%
Transport £62 £68 +10%
Council tax £155 £120 -23%
Groceries £280 £270 -4%
Disposable income remaining £1,187 £970 -18%

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 68 for York, a salary of £44,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,550 in York.

Edinburgh £44,000 ≈
£41,550
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 41%
York 39%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Edinburgh £2.74
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh £1.48
York £1.62
Gym membership
Edinburgh £40/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh £11.52
York £10.88

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Edinburgh or York? +
Edinburgh pays a median £44,000 vs £37,000 in York — a gross difference of £7,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals have £251/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 York? +
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000£2,914/month net take-home. In York: gross £37,000£2,513/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,814/month vs York's £1,563/month.
What salary in York matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £41,550 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 68 (York).
Is Edinburgh or York cheaper to live in? +
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 38%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Edinburgh and York

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

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