Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026
Edinburgh vs Leeds
Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh data analysts have £21/month more disposable income after rent than their Leeds counterparts.
Edinburgh salary
£44,000
£2,914/mo take-home
Leeds salary
£40,000
£2,693/mo take-home
Edinburgh wins by
+£21
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh
After paying rent, a data analyst in Edinburgh retains £21/month more than in Leeds — that's £252/year extra in purchasing power.
+£21
per month
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
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,693
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,793
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 66 for Leeds, a salary of £44,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,350 in Leeds.
Edinburgh £44,000 ≈
£40,350
in Leeds
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Edinburgh
41%
Leeds
45%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Edinburgh
£2.74
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh
£1.48
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh
£11.52
Leeds
£10.56
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Edinburgh or Leeds? +
Edinburgh pays a median £44,000 vs £40,000 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £4,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals
have £21/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Edinburgh vs Leeds? +
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000 → £2,914/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,814/month
vs Leeds's £1,793/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,350 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£44,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of
72 (Edinburgh) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Edinburgh or Leeds cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100).
Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Edinburgh? +
A data analyst in Edinburgh earning £44,000 takes home
£2,914/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 38%
(stretched).
In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 33%.