Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Sheffield

Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge data analysts have £338/month more disposable income after rent than their Sheffield counterparts.

Cambridge salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£38,000
£2,573/mo take-home
Cambridge wins by
+£338
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge

After paying rent, a data analyst in Cambridge retains £338/month more than in Sheffield — that's £4,056/year extra in purchasing power.

+£338
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £38,000
Net monthly £2,573
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,748

Cambridge vs Sheffield: what the £338/month gap means for a data analyst

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

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,086/month disposable income versus £1,748/month in Sheffield — that is £4,056/year in real spending power.

Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 42% compares favourably to Sheffield's 32%.

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 Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,500 £825 -45%
Transport £75 £65 -13%
Council tax £155 £126 -19%
Groceries £300 £265 -12%
Disposable income remaining £1,416 £1,158 -18%

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 Sheffield, a salary of £56,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,550 in Sheffield.

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

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cambridge 39%
Sheffield 45%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cambridge £3.31
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge £1.79
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Cambridge £48/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge £13.92
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data analyst earn more in Cambridge or Sheffield? +
Cambridge pays a median £56,000 vs £38,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £18,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals have £338/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 Sheffield? +
In Cambridge: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £38,000£2,573/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,086/month vs Sheffield's £1,748/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Cambridge purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,550 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of 87 (Cambridge) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Cambridge or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield 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 £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 32%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cambridge and Sheffield

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

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