Aberdeen vs Cambridge
Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge data scientists have £539/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Cambridge retains £539/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £6,468/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen vs Cambridge: what the £539/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Aberdeen data scientist roles pay £18,000/year less than Cambridge. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £3,081/month versus £4,070/month in Cambridge.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,500/month in Cambridge. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,570/month disposable income versus £2,031/month in Aberdeen — that is £6,468/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 37% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 34%.
For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Cambridge delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 87 for Cambridge, a salary of £48,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £57,200 in Cambridge.
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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