Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026
Leeds vs Manchester
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds data analysts have £30/month more disposable income after rent than their Manchester counterparts.
Leeds salary
£40,000
£2,693/mo take-home
Manchester salary
£42,000
£2,813/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£30
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a data analyst in Leeds retains £30/month more than in Manchester — that's £360/year extra in purchasing power.
+£30
per month
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
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 66 for Leeds and 68 for Manchester, a salary of £40,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,200 in Manchester.
Leeds £40,000 ≈
£41,200
in Manchester
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Leeds
45%
Manchester
40%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Leeds
£2.51
Manchester
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
Manchester
£1.79
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
Manchester
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
Manchester
£10.88
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Leeds or Manchester? +
Leeds pays a median £40,000 vs £42,000 in Manchester
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £30/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Leeds vs Manchester? +
In Leeds: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
In Manchester: gross £42,000 → £2,813/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £1,793/month
vs Manchester's £1,763/month.
What salary in Manchester matches Leeds purchasing power? +
Approximately £41,200 in Manchester delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£40,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 68 (Manchester).
Is Leeds or Manchester cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 68 for Manchester (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £1,050/month in Manchester.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Leeds? +
A data analyst in Leeds earning £40,000 takes home
£2,693/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 33%
(comfortable).
In Manchester the equivalent ratio is 37%.