Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Bristol

Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol data scientists have £2/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Bristol salary
£55,000
£3,538/mo take-home
Bristol wins by
+£2
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Bristol

After paying rent, a data scientist in Bristol retains £2/month more than in Brighton — that's £24/year extra in purchasing power.

+£2
per month
Brighton
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £56,000
Net monthly £3,586
Rent (1-bed) £1,400
Rent-to-income 39% — Stretched
After rent £2,186
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £55,000
Net monthly £3,538
Rent (1-bed) £1,350
Rent-to-income 38% — Stretched
After rent £2,188

Brighton vs Bristol: what the £2/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Brighton data scientist roles pay £1,000/year more than Bristol. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,586/month versus £3,538/month in Bristol.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £1,350/month in Bristol. Once housing costs are factored in, Bristol workers have £2,188/month disposable income versus £2,186/month in Brighton — that is £24/year in real spending power.

Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Brighton's 39%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton Bristol Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £1,350 -4%
Transport £80 £80 0%
Council tax £155 £148 -5%
Groceries £295 £285 -3%
Disposable income remaining £1,516 £1,539 +2%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 75 for Bristol, a salary of £56,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £51,200 in Bristol.

Brighton £56,000 ≈
£51,200
in Bristol

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 42%
Bristol 43%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
Bristol £2.85
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
Bristol £1.90
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
Bristol £41/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
Bristol £12.00

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Brighton or Bristol? +
Brighton pays a median £56,000 vs £55,000 in Bristol — a gross difference of £1,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals have £2/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in Brighton vs Bristol? +
In Brighton: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Bristol: gross £55,000£3,538/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,186/month vs Bristol's £2,188/month.
What salary in Bristol matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £51,200 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 75 (Bristol).
Is Brighton or Bristol cheaper to live in? +
Bristol is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 75 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £1,350/month in Bristol.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in Brighton? +
A data scientist in Brighton earning £56,000 takes home £3,586/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 39% (stretched). In Bristol the equivalent ratio is 38%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and Bristol

Afford Brighton on £55,000? Afford Bristol on £55,000? Salary equivalence: Brighton → Bristol Standard of living: Data Scientist in Brighton Standard of living: Data Scientist in Bristol

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