Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a data analyst in Leeds retains
£140/month more than in Brighton —
that's £1,680/year extra in purchasing power.
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£46,000
Net monthly
£3,053
Rent (1-bed)
£1,400
Rent-to-income
46% — High pressure
After rent
£1,653
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,693
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,793
Brighton vs Leeds: what the £140/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Brighton data analyst roles pay £6,000/year
more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £3,053/month versus
£2,693/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month
versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £1,793/month
disposable income versus £1,653/month in Brighton —
that is £1,680/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 33%
compares favourably to Brighton's 46%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Brighton |
Leeds |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,400 |
£900 |
-36% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£65 |
-19% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£112 |
-28% |
| Groceries |
£295 |
£270 |
-8% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£983 |
£1,211 |
+23% |
Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton
and 66 for Leeds,
a salary of £46,000 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £37,000 in Leeds.
Brighton £46,000 ≈
£37,000
in Leeds
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
Brighton
£3.12
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Brighton
£1.90
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Brighton
£45/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton
£13.12
Leeds
£10.56
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Brighton or Leeds?
+
Brighton pays a median £46,000 vs £40,000 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £140/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Brighton vs Leeds?
+
In Brighton: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £1,653/month
vs Leeds's £1,793/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £37,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£46,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of
82 (Brighton) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Brighton or Leeds cheaper to live in?
+
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100).
Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Brighton?
+
A data analyst in Brighton earning £46,000 takes home
£3,053/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 46%
(high pressure).
In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 33%.