Aberdeen vs Cardiff
Aberdeen wins on purchasing power. Aberdeen data analysts have £353/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
After paying rent, a data analyst in Aberdeen retains £353/month more than in Cardiff — that's £4,236/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen vs Cardiff: what the £353/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Aberdeen data analyst roles pay £9,000/year more than Cardiff. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,956/month versus £2,453/month in Cardiff.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £900/month in Cardiff. Once housing costs are factored in, Aberdeen workers have £1,906/month disposable income versus £1,553/month in Cardiff — that is £4,236/year in real spending power.
Aberdeen's rent-to-income ratio of 36% compares favourably to Cardiff's 37%.
For data analysts prioritising financial freedom, Aberdeen delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 64 for Cardiff, a salary of £45,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £39,450 in Cardiff.
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
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