Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs York

York wins on purchasing power. York data analysts have £220/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
York salary
£39,000
£2,633/mo take-home
York wins by
+£220
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
York

After paying rent, a data analyst in York retains £220/month more than in Bristol — that's £2,640/year extra in purchasing power.

+£220
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £39,000
Net monthly £2,633
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 36% — Stretched
After rent £1,683

Bristol vs York: what the £220/month gap means for a data analyst

On paper, Bristol data analyst roles pay £3,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £2,813/month versus £2,633/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, York workers have £1,683/month disposable income versus £1,463/month in Bristol — that is £2,640/year in real spending power.

York's rent-to-income ratio of 36% compares favourably to Bristol's 48%.

For data analysts prioritising financial freedom, York delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £950 -30%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £148 £120 -19%
Groceries £285 £270 -5%
Disposable income remaining £814 £1,090 +34%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 68 for York, a salary of £42,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,100 in York.

Bristol £42,000 ≈
£38,100
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 29%
York 41%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
York £1.62
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
York £10.88

Financial tools

Popular products for UK earners

Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now

Frequently asked questions

Does a data analyst earn more in Bristol or York? +
Bristol pays a median £42,000 vs £39,000 in York — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, York professionals have £220/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 York? +
In Bristol: gross £42,000£2,813/month net take-home. In York: gross £39,000£2,633/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £1,463/month vs York's £1,683/month.
What salary in York matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £38,100 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 68 (York).
Is Bristol or York cheaper to live in? +
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 36%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and York

Afford Bristol on £40,000? Afford York on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → York Standard of living: Data Analyst in Bristol Standard of living: Data Analyst in York

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