Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Leicester

Leicester wins on purchasing power. Leicester data analysts have £79/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.

Edinburgh salary
£44,000
£2,914/mo take-home
Leicester salary
£40,000
£2,693/mo take-home
Leicester wins by
+£79
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leicester

After paying rent, a data analyst in Leicester retains £79/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £948/year extra in purchasing power.

+£79
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
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £40,000
Net monthly £2,693
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 30% — Comfortable
After rent £1,893

Edinburgh vs Leicester: what the £79/month gap means for a data analyst

On paper, Edinburgh data analyst roles pay £4,000/year more than Leicester. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,914/month versus £2,693/month in Leicester.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £800/month in Leicester. Once housing costs are factored in, Leicester workers have £1,893/month disposable income versus £1,814/month in Edinburgh — that is £948/year in real spending power.

Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 30% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 38%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Edinburgh Leicester Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,100 £800 -27%
Transport £62 £62 0%
Council tax £155 £118 -24%
Groceries £280 £258 -8%
Disposable income remaining £1,187 £1,322 +11%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 63 for Leicester, a salary of £44,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,500 in Leicester.

Edinburgh £44,000 ≈
£38,500
in Leicester

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Edinburgh 41%
Leicester 49%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Edinburgh £2.74
Leicester £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh £1.48
Leicester £1.48
Gym membership
Edinburgh £40/mo
Leicester £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh £11.52
Leicester £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data analyst earn more in Edinburgh or Leicester? +
Edinburgh pays a median £44,000 vs £40,000 in Leicester — a gross difference of £4,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals have £79/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 Leicester? +
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000£2,914/month net take-home. In Leicester: gross £40,000£2,693/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,814/month vs Leicester's £1,893/month.
What salary in Leicester matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £38,500 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 63 (Leicester).
Is Edinburgh or Leicester cheaper to live in? +
Leicester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Leicester.
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 Leicester the equivalent ratio is 30%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Edinburgh and Leicester

Afford Edinburgh on £45,000? Afford Leicester on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Edinburgh → Leicester Standard of living: Data Analyst in Edinburgh Standard of living: Data Analyst in Leicester

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge