Cambridge vs Edinburgh
Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge data analysts have £272/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
After paying rent, a data analyst in Cambridge retains £272/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £3,264/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge vs Edinburgh: what the £272/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Cambridge data analyst roles pay £12,000/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,586/month versus £2,914/month in Edinburgh.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,086/month disposable income versus £1,814/month in Edinburgh — that is £3,264/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 42% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 38%.
For data analysts prioritising financial freedom, Cambridge delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £56,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,350 in Edinburgh.
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
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