Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026
Cardiff vs Edinburgh
Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh data analysts have £261/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
Cardiff salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Edinburgh salary
£44,000
£2,914/mo take-home
Edinburgh wins by
+£261
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh
After paying rent, a data analyst in Edinburgh retains £261/month more than in Cardiff — that's £3,132/year extra in purchasing power.
+£261
per month
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
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£44,000
Net monthly
£2,914
Rent (1-bed)
£1,100
Rent-to-income
38% — Stretched
After rent
£1,814
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £36,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,500 in Edinburgh.
Cardiff £36,000 ≈
£40,500
in Edinburgh
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Cardiff
40%
Edinburgh
41%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
Edinburgh
£2.74
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Edinburgh
£1.48
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Edinburgh
£11.52
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Cardiff or Edinburgh? +
Cardiff pays a median £36,000 vs £44,000 in Edinburgh
— a gross difference of £8,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals
have £261/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Cardiff vs Edinburgh? +
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000 → £2,914/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,553/month
vs Edinburgh's £1,814/month.
What salary in Edinburgh matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,500 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£36,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 72 (Edinburgh).
Is Cardiff or Edinburgh cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £1,100/month in Edinburgh.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Cardiff? +
A data analyst in Cardiff earning £36,000 takes home
£2,453/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 37%
(stretched).
In Edinburgh the equivalent ratio is 38%.