Data Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Sheffield vs York

Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield data analysts have £65/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Sheffield salary
£38,000
£2,573/mo take-home
York salary
£39,000
£2,633/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£65
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield

After paying rent, a data analyst in Sheffield retains £65/month more than in York — that's £780/year extra in purchasing power.

+£65
per month
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £38,000
Net monthly £2,573
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable
After rent £1,748
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

Sheffield vs York: what the £65/month gap means for a data analyst

On paper, Sheffield data analyst roles pay £1,000/year less than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Sheffield workers keep £2,573/month versus £2,633/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Sheffield rent runs £825/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Sheffield workers have £1,748/month disposable income versus £1,683/month in York — that is £780/year in real spending power.

Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to York's 36%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Sheffield York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £825 £950 +15%
Transport £65 £68 +5%
Council tax £126 £120 -5%
Groceries £265 £270 +2%
Disposable income remaining £1,158 £1,090 -6%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 63 for Sheffield and 68 for York, a salary of £38,000 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £41,000 in York.

Sheffield £38,000 ≈
£41,000
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Sheffield 45%
York 41%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Sheffield £2.39
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Sheffield £1.55
York £1.62
Gym membership
Sheffield £35/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Sheffield £10.08
York £10.88

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 Sheffield or York? +
Sheffield pays a median £38,000 vs £39,000 in York — a gross difference of £1,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals have £65/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data analyst in Sheffield vs York? +
In Sheffield: gross £38,000£2,573/month net take-home. In York: gross £39,000£2,633/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Sheffield leaves £1,748/month vs York's £1,683/month.
What salary in York matches Sheffield purchasing power? +
Approximately £41,000 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £38,000 in Sheffield, based on a cost-of-living index of 63 (Sheffield) vs 68 (York).
Is Sheffield or York cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 68 for York (London = 100). Rent in Sheffield averages £825/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data analyst in Sheffield? +
A data analyst in Sheffield earning £38,000 takes home £2,573/month. With median 1-bed rent of £825/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 32% (comfortable). In York the equivalent ratio is 36%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Sheffield and York

Afford Sheffield on £40,000? Afford York on £40,000? Salary equivalence: Sheffield → York Standard of living: Data Analyst in Sheffield Standard of living: Data Analyst in York

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