Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026
Edinburgh vs Manchester
Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh data analysts have £51/month more disposable income after rent than their Manchester counterparts.
Edinburgh salary
£44,000
£2,914/mo take-home
Manchester salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Edinburgh wins by
+£51
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh
After paying rent, a data analyst in Edinburgh retains £51/month more than in Manchester — that's £612/year extra in purchasing power.
+£51
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
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 72 for Edinburgh and 68 for Manchester, a salary of £44,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,550 in Manchester.
Edinburgh £44,000 ≈
£41,550
in Manchester
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Edinburgh
41%
Manchester
40%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Edinburgh
£2.74
Manchester
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh
£1.48
Manchester
£1.79
Gym membership
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Manchester
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh
£11.52
Manchester
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Edinburgh or Manchester? +
Edinburgh pays a median £44,000 vs £42,000 in Manchester
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals
have £51/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 Manchester? +
In Edinburgh: gross £44,000 → £2,914/month net take-home.
In Manchester: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £1,814/month
vs Manchester's £1,763/month.
What salary in Manchester matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £41,550 in Manchester delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£44,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of
72 (Edinburgh) vs 68 (Manchester).
Is Edinburgh or Manchester cheaper to live in? +
Manchester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100).
Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed)
vs £1,050/month in Manchester.
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 Manchester the equivalent ratio is 37%.