Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Oxford

Oxford wins on purchasing power. Oxford data analysts have £134/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£45,000
£2,956/mo take-home
Oxford salary
£54,000
£3,490/mo take-home
Oxford wins by
+£134
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Oxford

After paying rent, a data analyst in Oxford retains £134/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £1,608/year extra in purchasing power.

+£134
per month
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £45,000
Net monthly £2,956
Rent (1-bed) £1,050
Rent-to-income 36% — Stretched
After rent £1,906
Oxford
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £54,000
Net monthly £3,490
Rent (1-bed) £1,450
Rent-to-income 42% — Stretched
After rent £2,040

Aberdeen vs Oxford: what the £134/month gap means for a data analyst

On paper, Aberdeen data analyst roles pay £9,000/year less than Oxford. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £2,956/month versus £3,490/month in Oxford.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,450/month in Oxford. Once housing costs are factored in, Oxford workers have £2,040/month disposable income versus £1,906/month in Aberdeen — that is £1,608/year in real spending power.

Oxford's rent-to-income ratio of 42% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 36%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Oxford Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £1,450 +38%
Transport £60 £80 +33%
Council tax £148 £155 +5%
Groceries £285 £300 +5%
Disposable income remaining £1,273 £1,365 +7%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 85 for Oxford, a salary of £45,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,400 in Oxford.

Aberdeen £45,000 ≈
£52,400
in Oxford

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Aberdeen 43%
Oxford 39%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Oxford £3.23
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Oxford £1.90
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Oxford £47/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Oxford £13.60

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data analyst earn more in Aberdeen or Oxford? +
Aberdeen pays a median £45,000 vs £54,000 in Oxford — a gross difference of £9,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Oxford professionals have £134/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Aberdeen vs Oxford? +
In Aberdeen: gross £45,000£2,956/month net take-home. In Oxford: gross £54,000£3,490/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £1,906/month vs Oxford's £2,040/month.
What salary in Oxford matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £52,400 in Oxford delivers equivalent purchasing power to £45,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 85 (Oxford).
Is Aberdeen or Oxford cheaper to live in? +
Aberdeen is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 73 vs 85 for Oxford (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £1,450/month in Oxford.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Aberdeen? +
A data analyst in Aberdeen earning £45,000 takes home £2,956/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 36% (stretched). In Oxford the equivalent ratio is 42%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Oxford

Afford Aberdeen on £45,000? Afford Oxford on £55,000? Salary equivalence: Aberdeen → Oxford Standard of living: Data Analyst in Aberdeen Standard of living: Data Analyst in Oxford

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge