Winner on purchasing power
Exeter
After paying rent, a data analyst in Exeter retains
£20/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £240/year extra in purchasing power.
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
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£38,000
Net monthly
£2,573
Rent (1-bed)
£1,000
Rent-to-income
39% — Stretched
After rent
£1,573
Cardiff vs Exeter: what the £20/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Cardiff data analyst roles pay £2,000/year
less than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,453/month versus
£2,573/month in Exeter.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month
versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in,
Exeter workers have £1,573/month
disposable income versus £1,553/month in Cardiff —
that is £240/year in real spending power.
Exeter's rent-to-income ratio of 39%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 37%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cardiff |
Exeter |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£1,000 |
+11% |
| Transport |
£50 |
£68 |
+36% |
| Council tax |
£132 |
£125 |
-5% |
| Groceries |
£255 |
£272 |
+7% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£983 |
£973 |
-1% |
Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff
and 70 for Exeter,
a salary of £36,000 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £39,400 in Exeter.
Cardiff £36,000 ≈
£39,400
in Exeter
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
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
Exeter
£2.66
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Exeter
£1.62
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Exeter
£39/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Exeter
£11.20
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Cardiff or Exeter?
+
Cardiff pays a median £36,000 vs £38,000 in Exeter
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Exeter professionals
have £20/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 Exeter?
+
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
In Exeter: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,553/month
vs Exeter's £1,573/month.
What salary in Exeter matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £39,400 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£36,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 70 (Exeter).
Is Cardiff or Exeter cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 70 for Exeter (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £1,000/month in Exeter.
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 Exeter the equivalent ratio is 39%.