Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Exeter vs London

Exeter wins on purchasing power. Exeter data analysts have £330/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.

Exeter salary
£38,000
£2,573/mo take-home
London salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
Exeter wins by
+£330
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Exeter

After paying rent, a data analyst in Exeter retains £330/month more than in London — that's £3,960/year extra in purchasing power.

+£330
per month
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £38,000
Net monthly £2,573
Rent (1-bed) £1,000
Rent-to-income 39% — Stretched
After rent £1,573
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £52,000
Net monthly £3,393
Rent (1-bed) £2,150
Rent-to-income 63% — High pressure
After rent £1,243

Exeter vs London: what the £330/month gap means for a data analyst

On paper, Exeter data analyst roles pay £14,000/year less than London. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Exeter workers keep £2,573/month versus £3,393/month in London.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Exeter rent runs £1,000/month versus £2,150/month in London. Once housing costs are factored in, Exeter workers have £1,573/month disposable income versus £1,243/month in London — that is £3,960/year in real spending power.

Exeter's rent-to-income ratio of 39% compares favourably to London's 63%.

For data analysts prioritising financial freedom, Exeter delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Exeter London Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,000 £2,150 +115%
Transport £68 £185 +172%
Council tax £125 £165 +32%
Groceries £272 £320 +18%
Disposable income remaining £973 £431 -56%

Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 70 for Exeter and 100 for London, a salary of £38,000 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £54,300 in London.

Exeter £38,000 ≈
£54,300
in London

Income retention after all essentials

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

Exeter 38%
London 13%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Exeter £2.66
London £3.80
Transit (single trip)
Exeter £1.62
London £4.40
Gym membership
Exeter £39/mo
London £55/mo
Cinema ticket
Exeter £11.20
London £16.00

Financial tools

Popular products for UK earners

Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now

Frequently asked questions

Does a data analyst earn more in Exeter or London? +
Exeter pays a median £38,000 vs £52,000 in London — a gross difference of £14,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Exeter professionals have £330/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Exeter vs London? +
In Exeter: gross £38,000£2,573/month net take-home. In London: gross £52,000£3,393/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Exeter leaves £1,573/month vs London's £1,243/month.
What salary in London matches Exeter purchasing power? +
Approximately £54,300 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,000 in Exeter, based on a cost-of-living index of 70 (Exeter) vs 100 (London).
Is Exeter or London cheaper to live in? +
Exeter is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 70 vs 100 for London (London = 100). Rent in Exeter averages £1,000/month (1-bed) vs £2,150/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Exeter? +
A data analyst in Exeter earning £38,000 takes home £2,573/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,000/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 39% (stretched). In London the equivalent ratio is 63%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Exeter and London

Afford Exeter on £40,000? Afford London on £50,000? Salary equivalence: Exeter → London Standard of living: Data Analyst in Exeter Standard of living: Data Analyst in London

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