Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool
After paying rent, a data analyst in Liverpool retains
£199/month more than in Edinburgh —
that's £2,388/year extra in purchasing power.
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
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£42,000
Net monthly
£2,813
Rent (1-bed)
£800
Rent-to-income
28% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,013
Edinburgh vs Liverpool: what the £199/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Edinburgh data analyst roles pay £2,000/year
more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Edinburgh workers keep £2,914/month versus
£2,813/month in Liverpool.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month
versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in,
Liverpool workers have £2,013/month
disposable income versus £1,814/month in Edinburgh —
that is £2,388/year in real spending power.
Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 28%
compares favourably to Edinburgh's 38%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Edinburgh |
Liverpool |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,100 |
£800 |
-27% |
| Transport |
£62 |
£70 |
+13% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£115 |
-26% |
| Groceries |
£280 |
£260 |
-7% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,187 |
£1,435 |
+21% |
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 62 for Liverpool,
a salary of £44,000 in Edinburgh delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £37,900 in Liverpool.
Edinburgh £44,000 ≈
£37,900
in Liverpool
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
Edinburgh
£2.74
Liverpool
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh
£1.48
Liverpool
£1.67
Gym membership
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Liverpool
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh
£11.52
Liverpool
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Edinburgh or Liverpool?
+
Edinburgh pays a median £44,000 vs £42,000 in Liverpool
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals
have £199/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 Liverpool?
+
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000 → £2,914/month net take-home.
In Liverpool: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,814/month
vs Liverpool's £2,013/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Edinburgh purchasing power?
+
Approximately £37,900 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£44,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of
72 (Edinburgh) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Edinburgh or Liverpool cheaper to live in?
+
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100).
Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed)
vs £800/month in Liverpool.
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 Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 28%.