Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Exeter vs Glasgow

Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow data / business analysts have £449/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Exeter salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Glasgow salary
£42,000
£2,802/mo take-home
Glasgow wins by
+£449
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Glasgow retains £449/month more than in Exeter — that's £5,388/year extra in purchasing power.

+£449
per month
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
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £42,000
Net monthly £2,802
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,902

Exeter vs Glasgow: what the £449/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Exeter data / business analyst roles pay £6,000/year less than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Exeter workers keep £2,453/month versus £2,802/month in Glasgow.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in, Glasgow workers have £1,902/month disposable income versus £1,453/month in Exeter — that is £5,388/year in real spending power.

Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to Exeter's 41%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Exeter Glasgow Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,000 £900 -10%
Transport £68 £55 -19%
Council tax £125 £148 +18%
Groceries £272 £265 -3%
Disposable income remaining £853 £1,304 +53%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 70 for Exeter and 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £36,000 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £31,900 in Glasgow.

Exeter £36,000 ≈
£31,900
in Glasgow

Income retention after all essentials

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

Exeter 35%
Glasgow 47%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Exeter £2.66
Glasgow £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Exeter £1.62
Glasgow £1.31
Gym membership
Exeter £39/mo
Glasgow £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter £11.20
Glasgow £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Exeter or Glasgow? +
Exeter pays a median £36,000 vs £42,000 in Glasgow — a gross difference of £6,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals have £449/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Exeter vs Glasgow? +
In Exeter: gross £36,000£2,453/month net take-home. In Glasgow: gross £42,000£2,802/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,453/month vs Glasgow's £1,902/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Exeter purchasing power? +
Approximately £31,900 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,000 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of 70 (Exeter) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Exeter or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100). Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Glasgow.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Exeter? +
A data / business analyst in Exeter earning £36,000 takes home £2,453/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,000/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 41% (stretched). In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 32%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Exeter and Glasgow

Afford Exeter on £35,000? Afford Glasgow on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Exeter → Glasgow Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Exeter Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Glasgow

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