Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Aberdeen vs Newcastle

Newcastle wins on purchasing power. Newcastle data scientists have £212/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.

Aberdeen salary
£48,000
£3,081/mo take-home
Newcastle salary
£45,000
£2,993/mo take-home
Newcastle wins by
+£212
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Newcastle

After paying rent, a data scientist in Newcastle retains £212/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £2,544/year extra in purchasing power.

+£212
per month
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £48,000
Net monthly £3,081
Rent (1-bed) £1,050
Rent-to-income 34% — Stretched
After rent £2,031
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £45,000
Net monthly £2,993
Rent (1-bed) £750
Rent-to-income 25% — Comfortable
After rent £2,243

Aberdeen vs Newcastle: what the £212/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Aberdeen data scientist roles pay £3,000/year more than Newcastle. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £3,081/month versus £2,993/month in Newcastle.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £750/month in Newcastle. Once housing costs are factored in, Newcastle workers have £2,243/month disposable income versus £2,031/month in Aberdeen — that is £2,544/year in real spending power.

Newcastle's rent-to-income ratio of 25% compares favourably to Aberdeen's 34%.

For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Newcastle delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Aberdeen Newcastle Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,050 £750 -29%
Transport £60 £75 +25%
Council tax £148 £112 -24%
Groceries £285 £255 -11%
Disposable income remaining £1,398 £1,669 +19%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 61 for Newcastle, a salary of £48,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £40,100 in Newcastle.

Aberdeen £48,000 ≈
£40,100
in Newcastle

Income retention after all essentials

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

Aberdeen 45%
Newcastle 56%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Aberdeen £2.77
Newcastle £2.32
Transit (single trip)
Aberdeen £1.43
Newcastle £1.79
Gym membership
Aberdeen £40/mo
Newcastle £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Aberdeen £11.68
Newcastle £9.76

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 scientist earn more in Aberdeen or Newcastle? +
Aberdeen pays a median £48,000 vs £45,000 in Newcastle — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Newcastle professionals have £212/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in Aberdeen vs Newcastle? +
In Aberdeen: gross £48,000£3,081/month net take-home. In Newcastle: gross £45,000£2,993/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Aberdeen leaves £2,031/month vs Newcastle's £2,243/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches Aberdeen purchasing power? +
Approximately £40,100 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to £48,000 in Aberdeen, based on a cost-of-living index of 73 (Aberdeen) vs 61 (Newcastle).
Is Aberdeen or Newcastle cheaper to live in? +
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 73 for Aberdeen (London = 100). Rent in Aberdeen averages £1,050/month (1-bed) vs £750/month in Newcastle.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in Aberdeen? +
A data scientist in Aberdeen earning £48,000 takes home £3,081/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,050/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 34% (stretched). In Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 25%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Aberdeen and Newcastle

Afford Aberdeen on £50,000? Afford Newcastle on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Aberdeen → Newcastle Standard of living: Data Scientist in Aberdeen Standard of living: Data Scientist in Newcastle

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