Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026
Cardiff vs Manchester
Manchester wins on purchasing power. Manchester data analysts have £210/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
Cardiff salary
£36,000
£2,453/mo take-home
Manchester salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Manchester wins by
+£210
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Manchester
After paying rent, a data analyst in Manchester retains £210/month more than in Cardiff — that's £2,520/year extra in purchasing power.
+£210
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
Manchester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£42,000
Net monthly
£2,813
Rent (1-bed)
£1,050
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£1,763
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 68 for Manchester, a salary of £36,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,250 in Manchester.
Cardiff £36,000 ≈
£38,250
in Manchester
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Cardiff
40%
Manchester
40%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Cardiff
£2.43
Manchester
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
Manchester
£1.79
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
Manchester
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
Manchester
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Cardiff or Manchester? +
Cardiff pays a median £36,000 vs £42,000 in Manchester
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Manchester professionals
have £210/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 Manchester? +
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
In Manchester: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,553/month
vs Manchester's £1,763/month.
What salary in Manchester matches Cardiff purchasing power? +
Approximately £38,250 in Manchester delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£36,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 68 (Manchester).
Is Cardiff or Manchester cheaper to live in? +
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 68 for Manchester (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £1,050/month in Manchester.
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 Manchester the equivalent ratio is 37%.