Winner on purchasing power
York
After paying rent, a data analyst in York retains
£130/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £1,560/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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£39,000
Net monthly
£2,633
Rent (1-bed)
£950
Rent-to-income
36% — Stretched
After rent
£1,683
Cardiff vs York: what the £130/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Cardiff data analyst roles pay £3,000/year
less than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,453/month versus
£2,633/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
York workers have £1,683/month
disposable income versus £1,553/month in Cardiff —
that is £1,560/year in real spending power.
York's rent-to-income ratio of 36%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 37%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cardiff |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£950 |
+6% |
| Transport |
£50 |
£68 |
+36% |
| Council tax |
£132 |
£120 |
-9% |
| Groceries |
£255 |
£270 |
+6% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£983 |
£1,090 |
+11% |
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 68 for York,
a salary of £36,000 in Cardiff delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £38,250 in York.
Cardiff £36,000 ≈
£38,250
in York
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
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Cardiff
£1.19
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Cardiff
£35/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Cardiff
£10.24
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Cardiff or York?
+
Cardiff pays a median £36,000 vs £39,000 in York
— a gross difference of £3,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, York professionals
have £130/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 York?
+
In Cardiff: gross £36,000 → £2,453/month net take-home.
In York: gross £39,000 → £2,633/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £1,553/month
vs York's £1,683/month.
What salary in York matches Cardiff purchasing power?
+
Approximately £38,250 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£36,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of
64 (Cardiff) vs 68 (York).
Is Cardiff or York cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 68 for York (London = 100).
Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 36%.