Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Exeter vs Leeds

Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds data / business analysts have £580/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Exeter salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Leeds salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£580
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Leeds retains £580/month more than in Exeter — that's £6,960/year extra in purchasing power.

+£580
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
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £44,000
Net monthly £2,933
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £2,033

Exeter vs Leeds: what the £580/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Exeter data / business analyst roles pay £8,000/year less than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Exeter workers keep £2,453/month versus £2,933/month in Leeds.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,033/month disposable income versus £1,453/month in Exeter — that is £6,960/year in real spending power.

Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 31% compares favourably to Exeter's 41%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Exeter Leeds Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,000 £900 -10%
Transport £68 £65 -4%
Council tax £125 £112 -10%
Groceries £272 £270 -1%
Disposable income remaining £853 £1,451 +70%

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 66 for Leeds, a salary of £36,000 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £33,950 in Leeds.

Exeter £36,000 ≈
£33,950
in Leeds

Income retention after all essentials

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

Exeter 35%
Leeds 49%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Exeter £2.66
Leeds £2.51
Transit (single trip)
Exeter £1.62
Leeds £1.55
Gym membership
Exeter £39/mo
Leeds £36/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter £11.20
Leeds £10.56

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Exeter or Leeds? +
Exeter pays a median £36,000 vs £44,000 in Leeds — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals have £580/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 Leeds? +
In Exeter: gross £36,000£2,453/month net take-home. In Leeds: gross £44,000£2,933/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,453/month vs Leeds's £2,033/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Exeter purchasing power? +
Approximately £33,950 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £36,000 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of 70 (Exeter) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Exeter or Leeds cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100). Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Leeds.
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 Leeds the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Exeter and Leeds

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

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