Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026
Bristol vs Cardiff
Cardiff wins on purchasing power. Cardiff data analysts have £90/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.
Bristol salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Cardiff salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Cardiff wins by
+£90
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cardiff
After paying rent, a data analyst in Cardiff retains £90/month more than in Bristol — that's £1,080/year extra in purchasing power.
+£90
per month
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£42,000
Net monthly
£2,813
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
48% — High pressure
After rent
£1,463
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£36,000
Net monthly
£2,453
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£1,553
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 64 for Cardiff, a salary of £42,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £35,850 in Cardiff.
Bristol £42,000 ≈
£35,850
in Cardiff
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Bristol
29%
Cardiff
40%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Bristol
£2.85
Cardiff
£2.43
Transit (single trip)
Bristol
£1.90
Cardiff
£1.19
Gym membership
Bristol
£41/mo
Cardiff
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol
£12.00
Cardiff
£10.24
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Bristol or Cardiff? +
Bristol pays a median £42,000 vs £36,000 in Cardiff
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cardiff professionals
have £90/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Bristol vs Cardiff? +
In Bristol: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,463/month
vs Cardiff's £1,553/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £35,850 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£42,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of
75 (Bristol) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is Bristol or Cardiff cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Cardiff.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Bristol? +
A data analyst in Bristol earning £42,000 takes home
£2,813/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 48%
(high pressure).
In Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 37%.