Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh
After paying rent, a data analyst in Edinburgh retains
£91/month more than in Nottingham —
that's £1,092/year extra in purchasing power.
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£44,000
Net monthly
£2,914
Rent (1-bed)
£1,100
Rent-to-income
38% — Stretched
After rent
£1,814
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£38,000
Net monthly
£2,573
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,723
Edinburgh vs Nottingham: what the £91/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Edinburgh data analyst roles pay £6,000/year
more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,914/month versus
£2,573/month in Nottingham.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month
versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in,
Edinburgh workers have £1,814/month
disposable income versus £1,723/month in Nottingham —
that is £1,092/year in real spending power.
Edinburgh's rent-to-income ratio of 38%
compares favourably to Nottingham's 33%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Edinburgh |
Nottingham |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,100 |
£850 |
-23% |
| Transport |
£62 |
£58 |
-6% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£118 |
-24% |
| Groceries |
£280 |
£260 |
-7% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,187 |
£1,154 |
-3% |
Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh
and 63 for Nottingham,
a salary of £44,000 in Edinburgh delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £38,500 in Nottingham.
Edinburgh £44,000 ≈
£38,500
in Nottingham
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
Edinburgh
£2.74
Nottingham
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh
£1.48
Nottingham
£1.38
Gym membership
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Nottingham
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh
£11.52
Nottingham
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Edinburgh or Nottingham?
+
Edinburgh pays a median £44,000 vs £38,000 in Nottingham
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals
have £91/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Edinburgh vs Nottingham?
+
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000 → £2,914/month net take-home.
In Nottingham: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,814/month
vs Nottingham's £1,723/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Edinburgh purchasing power?
+
Approximately £38,500 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£44,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of
72 (Edinburgh) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Edinburgh or Nottingham cheaper to live in?
+
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100).
Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed)
vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Edinburgh?
+
A data analyst in Edinburgh earning £44,000 takes home
£2,914/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 38%
(stretched).
In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 33%.