Winner on purchasing power
Manchester
After paying rent, a data / business analyst in Manchester retains
£126/month more than in Sheffield —
that's £1,512/year extra in purchasing power.
Manchester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£45,850
Net monthly
£3,044
Rent (1-bed)
£1,050
Rent-to-income
34% — Stretched
After rent
£1,994
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
Manchester vs Sheffield: what the £126/month gap means for a data / business analyst
On paper, Manchester data / business analyst roles pay £5,850/year
more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Manchester workers keep £3,044/month versus
£2,693/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Manchester rent runs £1,050/month
versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in,
Manchester workers have £1,994/month
disposable income versus £1,868/month in Sheffield —
that is £1,512/year in real spending power.
Manchester's rent-to-income ratio of 34%
compares favourably to Sheffield's 31%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Manchester |
Sheffield |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,050 |
£825 |
-21% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£65 |
-13% |
| Council tax |
£128 |
£126 |
-2% |
| Groceries |
£280 |
£265 |
-5% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,366 |
£1,278 |
-6% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 68 for Manchester
and 63 for Sheffield,
a salary of £45,850 in Manchester delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £42,500 in Sheffield.
Manchester £45,850 ≈
£42,500
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
Manchester
£2.58
Sheffield
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Manchester
£1.79
Sheffield
£1.55
Gym membership
Manchester
£37/mo
Sheffield
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Manchester
£10.88
Sheffield
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data / business analyst earn more in Manchester or Sheffield?
+
Manchester pays a median £45,850 vs £40,000 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £5,850.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Manchester professionals
have £126/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data / business analyst in Manchester vs Sheffield?
+
In Manchester: gross £45,850 → £3,044/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Manchester leaves £1,994/month
vs Sheffield's £1,868/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Manchester purchasing power?
+
Approximately £42,500 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£45,850 in Manchester, based on a cost-of-living index of
68 (Manchester) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Manchester or Sheffield cheaper to live in?
+
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 68 for Manchester (London = 100).
Rent in Manchester averages £1,050/month (1-bed)
vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data / business analyst in Manchester?
+
A data / business analyst in Manchester earning £45,850 takes home
£3,044/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 34%
(stretched).
In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 31%.