Aberdeen vs Bristol
Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol data scientists have £157/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Bristol retains £157/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £1,884/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen vs Bristol: what the £157/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Aberdeen data scientist roles pay £7,000/year less than Bristol. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £3,081/month versus £3,538/month in Bristol.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,350/month in Bristol. Once housing costs are factored in, Bristol workers have £2,188/month disposable income versus £2,031/month in Aberdeen — that is £1,884/year in real spending power.
Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 34%.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 75 for Bristol, a salary of £48,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £49,300 in Bristol.
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
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