Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Nottingham

Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge data analysts have £363/month more disposable income after rent than their Nottingham counterparts.

Cambridge salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£38,000
£2,573/mo take-home
Cambridge wins by
+£363
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge

After paying rent, a data analyst in Cambridge retains £363/month more than in Nottingham — that's £4,356/year extra in purchasing power.

+£363
per month
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £56,000
Net monthly £3,586
Rent (1-bed) £1,500
Rent-to-income 42% — Stretched
After rent £2,086
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £38,000
Net monthly £2,573
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 33% — Comfortable
After rent £1,723

Cambridge vs Nottingham: what the £363/month gap means for a data analyst

On paper, Cambridge data analyst roles pay £18,000/year more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,586/month versus £2,573/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,086/month disposable income versus £1,723/month in Nottingham — that is £4,356/year in real spending power.

Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 42% compares favourably to Nottingham's 33%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cambridge Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,500 £850 -43%
Transport £75 £58 -23%
Council tax £155 £118 -24%
Groceries £300 £260 -13%
Disposable income remaining £1,416 £1,154 -19%

Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge and 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £56,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,550 in Nottingham.

Cambridge £56,000 ≈
£40,550
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cambridge 39%
Nottingham 45%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cambridge £3.31
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge £1.79
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Cambridge £48/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge £13.92
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data analyst earn more in Cambridge or Nottingham? +
Cambridge pays a median £56,000 vs £38,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £18,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals have £363/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Cambridge vs Nottingham? +
In Cambridge: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £38,000£2,573/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,086/month vs Nottingham's £1,723/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Cambridge purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,550 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of 87 (Cambridge) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Cambridge or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100). Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Cambridge? +
A data analyst in Cambridge earning £56,000 takes home £3,586/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,500/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 42% (stretched). In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 33%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cambridge and Nottingham

Afford Cambridge on £55,000? Afford Nottingham on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Cambridge → Nottingham Standard of living: Data Analyst in Cambridge Standard of living: Data Analyst in Nottingham

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