Leeds vs London
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds data analysts have £550/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
After paying rent, a data analyst in Leeds retains £550/month more than in London — that's £6,600/year extra in purchasing power.
Leeds vs London: what the £550/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Leeds data analyst roles pay £12,000/year less than London. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leeds workers keep £2,693/month versus £3,393/month in London.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month versus £2,150/month in London. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £1,793/month disposable income versus £1,243/month in London — that is £6,600/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 33% compares favourably to London's 63%.
For data analysts prioritising financial freedom, Leeds delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds and 100 for London, a salary of £40,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £60,600 in London.
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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