Data / Business Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Leicester vs Nottingham

Nottingham wins on purchasing power. Nottingham data / business analysts have £10/month more disposable income after rent than their Leicester counterparts.

Leicester salary
£38,000
£2,573/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£39,000
£2,633/mo take-home
Nottingham wins by
+£10
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Nottingham

After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Nottingham retains £10/month more than in Leicester — that's £120/year extra in purchasing power.

+£10
per month
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
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £39,000
Net monthly £2,633
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,783

Leicester vs Nottingham: what the £10/month gap means for a data / business analyst

On paper, Leicester data / business analyst roles pay £1,000/year less than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leicester workers keep £2,573/month versus £2,633/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leicester rent runs £800/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Nottingham workers have £1,783/month disposable income versus £1,773/month in Leicester — that is £120/year in real spending power.

Nottingham's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to Leicester's 31%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Leicester Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £850 +6%
Transport £62 £58 -6%
Council tax £118 £118 0%
Groceries £258 £260 +1%
Disposable income remaining £1,202 £1,214 +1%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 63 for Leicester and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £38,000 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,000 in Nottingham.

Leicester £38,000 ≈
£38,000
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Leicester 47%
Nottingham 46%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leicester £2.39
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Leicester £1.48
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Leicester £35/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Leicester £10.08
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data / business analyst earn more in Leicester or Nottingham? +
Leicester pays a median £38,000 vs £39,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £1,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Nottingham professionals have £10/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Leicester vs Nottingham? +
In Leicester: gross £38,000£2,573/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £39,000£2,633/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leicester leaves £1,773/month vs Nottingham's £1,783/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Leicester purchasing power? +
Approximately £38,000 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,000 in Leicester, based on a cost-of-living index of 63 (Leicester) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Leicester or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Leicester and Nottingham have the same cost-of-living index of 63 (London = 100). Rent in Leicester averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Leicester? +
A data / business analyst in Leicester earning £38,000 takes home £2,573/month. With median 1-bed rent of £800/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 31% (comfortable). In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 32%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leicester and Nottingham

Afford Leicester on £40,000? Afford Nottingham on £40,000? Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Leicester Standard of living: Data / Business Analyst in Nottingham

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