Aberdeen vs Cambridge
Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge data analysts have £180/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.
After paying rent, a data analyst in Cambridge retains £180/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £2,160/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen vs Cambridge: what the £180/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Aberdeen data analyst roles pay £11,000/year less than Cambridge. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,956/month versus £3,586/month in Cambridge.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,500/month in Cambridge. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,086/month disposable income versus £1,906/month in Aberdeen — that is £2,160/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 42% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 36%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 87 for Cambridge, a salary of £45,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £53,650 in Cambridge.
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners