Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Leeds vs Leicester

Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds data / business analysts have £260/month more disposable income after rent than their Leicester counterparts.

Leeds salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Leicester salary
£38,000
£2,573/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£260
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Leeds retains £260/month more than in Leicester — that's £3,120/year extra in purchasing power.

+£260
per month
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
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £38,000
Net monthly £2,573
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £1,773

Leeds vs Leicester: what the £260/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Leeds data / business analyst roles pay £6,000/year more than Leicester. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leeds workers keep £2,933/month versus £2,573/month in Leicester.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month versus £800/month in Leicester. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,033/month disposable income versus £1,773/month in Leicester — that is £3,120/year in real spending power.

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

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 Leeds Leicester Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £900 £800 -11%
Transport £65 £62 -5%
Council tax £112 £118 +5%
Groceries £270 £258 -4%
Disposable income remaining £1,451 £1,202 -17%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds and 63 for Leicester, a salary of £44,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Leicester.

Leeds £44,000 ≈
£42,000
in Leicester

Income retention after all essentials

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

Leeds 49%
Leicester 47%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leeds £2.51
Leicester £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Leeds £1.55
Leicester £1.48
Gym membership
Leeds £36/mo
Leicester £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds £10.56
Leicester £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Leeds or Leicester? +
Leeds pays a median £44,000 vs £38,000 in Leicester — a gross difference of £6,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals have £260/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Leeds vs Leicester? +
In Leeds: gross £44,000£2,933/month net take-home. In Leicester: gross £38,000£2,573/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £2,033/month vs Leicester's £1,773/month.
What salary in Leicester matches Leeds purchasing power? +
Approximately £42,000 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of 66 (Leeds) vs 63 (Leicester).
Is Leeds or Leicester cheaper to live in? +
Leicester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 66 for Leeds (London = 100). Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Leicester.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Leeds? +
A data / business analyst in Leeds earning £44,000 takes home £2,933/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 31% (comfortable). In Leicester the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leeds and Leicester

Afford Leeds on £45,000? Afford Leicester on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Leeds → Leicester Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Leeds Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Leicester

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