Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow
After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Glasgow retains
£34/month more than in Sheffield —
that's £408/year extra in purchasing power.
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,693
Rent (1-bed)
£825
Rent-to-income
31% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,868
Glasgow vs Sheffield: what the £34/month gap means for a data / business analyst
On paper, Glasgow data / business analyst roles pay £2,000/year
more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Glasgow workers keep £2,802/month versus
£2,693/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Glasgow rent runs £900/month
versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in,
Glasgow workers have £1,902/month
disposable income versus £1,868/month in Sheffield —
that is £408/year in real spending power.
Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 32%
compares favourably to Sheffield's 31%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Glasgow |
Sheffield |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£825 |
-8% |
| Transport |
£55 |
£65 |
+18% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£126 |
-15% |
| Groceries |
£265 |
£265 |
0% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,304 |
£1,278 |
-2% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 62 for Glasgow
and 63 for Sheffield,
a salary of £42,000 in Glasgow delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £42,700 in Sheffield.
Glasgow £42,000 ≈
£42,700
in Sheffield
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Glasgow
£2.36
Sheffield
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Glasgow
£1.31
Sheffield
£1.55
Gym membership
Glasgow
£34/mo
Sheffield
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Glasgow
£9.92
Sheffield
£10.08
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Frequently asked questions
Does a data / business analyst earn more in Glasgow or Sheffield?
+
Glasgow pays a median £42,000 vs £40,000 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals
have £34/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Glasgow vs Sheffield?
+
In Glasgow: gross £42,000 → £2,802/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Glasgow leaves £1,902/month
vs Sheffield's £1,868/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Glasgow purchasing power?
+
Approximately £42,700 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£42,000 in Glasgow, based on a cost-of-living index of
62 (Glasgow) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Glasgow or Sheffield cheaper to live in?
+
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 63 for Sheffield (London = 100).
Rent in Glasgow averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Glasgow?
+
A data / business analyst in Glasgow earning £42,000 takes home
£2,802/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 32%
(comfortable).
In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 31%.