Winner on purchasing power
Cardiff
After paying rent, a data analyst in Cardiff retains
£90/month more than in Bristol —
that's £1,080/year extra in purchasing power.
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£42,000
Net monthly
£2,813
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
48% — High pressure
After rent
£1,463
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£36,000
Net monthly
£2,453
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£1,553
Bristol vs Cardiff: what the £90/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Bristol data analyst roles pay £6,000/year
more than Cardiff. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Bristol workers keep £2,813/month versus
£2,453/month in Cardiff.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month
versus £900/month in Cardiff. Once housing costs are factored in,
Cardiff workers have £1,553/month
disposable income versus £1,463/month in Bristol —
that is £1,080/year in real spending power.
Cardiff's rent-to-income ratio of 37%
compares favourably to Bristol's 48%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Bristol |
Cardiff |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,350 |
£900 |
-33% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£50 |
-37% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£132 |
-11% |
| Groceries |
£285 |
£255 |
-11% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£814 |
£983 |
+21% |
Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol
and 64 for Cardiff,
a salary of £42,000 in Bristol delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £35,850 in Cardiff.
Bristol £42,000 ≈
£35,850
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
Cappuccino
Bristol
£2.85
Cardiff
£2.43
Transit (single trip)
Bristol
£1.90
Cardiff
£1.19
Gym membership
Bristol
£41/mo
Cardiff
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol
£12.00
Cardiff
£10.24
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 analyst earn more in Bristol or Cardiff?
+
Bristol pays a median £42,000 vs £36,000 in Cardiff
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cardiff professionals
have £90/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Bristol vs Cardiff?
+
In Bristol: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,463/month
vs Cardiff's £1,553/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches Bristol purchasing power?
+
Approximately £35,850 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£42,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of
75 (Bristol) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is Bristol or Cardiff cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Cardiff.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Bristol?
+
A data analyst in Bristol earning £42,000 takes home
£2,813/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 48%
(high pressure).
In Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 37%.