Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a data analyst in Leeds retains
£110/month more than in York —
that's £1,320/year extra in purchasing power.
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£39,000
Net monthly
£2,633
Rent (1-bed)
£950
Rent-to-income
36% — Stretched
After rent
£1,683
Leeds vs York: what the £110/month gap means for a data analyst
On paper, Leeds data analyst roles pay £1,000/year
more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Leeds workers keep £2,693/month versus
£2,633/month in York.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month
versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in,
Leeds workers have £1,793/month
disposable income versus £1,683/month in York —
that is £1,320/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 33%
compares favourably to York's 36%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Leeds |
York |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£950 |
+6% |
| Transport |
£65 |
£68 |
+5% |
| Council tax |
£112 |
£120 |
+7% |
| Groceries |
£270 |
£270 |
0% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,211 |
£1,090 |
-10% |
Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds
and 68 for York,
a salary of £40,000 in Leeds delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £41,200 in York.
Leeds £40,000 ≈
£41,200
in York
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
Leeds
£2.51
York
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
York
£1.62
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
York
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
York
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data analyst earn more in Leeds or York?
+
Leeds pays a median £40,000 vs £39,000 in York
— a gross difference of £1,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £110/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 York?
+
In Leeds: gross £40,000 → £2,693/month net take-home.
In York: gross £39,000 → £2,633/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £1,793/month
vs York's £1,683/month.
What salary in York matches Leeds purchasing power?
+
Approximately £41,200 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£40,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 68 (York).
Is Leeds or York cheaper to live in?
+
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 68 for York (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 36%.