Winner on purchasing power
Brighton
After paying rent, a data scientist in Brighton retains
£153/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £1,836/year extra in purchasing power.
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
Cardiff
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£44,000
Net monthly
£2,933
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
31% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,033
Brighton vs Cardiff: what the £153/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Brighton data scientist roles pay £12,000/year
more than Cardiff. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Brighton workers keep £3,586/month versus
£2,933/month in Cardiff.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month
versus £900/month in Cardiff. Once housing costs are factored in,
Brighton workers have £2,186/month
disposable income versus £2,033/month in Cardiff —
that is £1,836/year in real spending power.
Brighton's rent-to-income ratio of 39%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 31%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Brighton |
Cardiff |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,400 |
£900 |
-36% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£50 |
-37% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£132 |
-15% |
| Groceries |
£295 |
£255 |
-14% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,516 |
£1,463 |
-3% |
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 64 for Cardiff,
a salary of £56,000 in Brighton delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £43,700 in Cardiff.
Brighton £56,000 ≈
£43,700
in Cardiff
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
Cappuccino
Brighton
£3.12
Cardiff
£2.43
Transit (single trip)
Brighton
£1.90
Cardiff
£1.19
Gym membership
Brighton
£45/mo
Cardiff
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton
£13.12
Cardiff
£10.24
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data scientist earn more in Brighton or Cardiff?
+
Brighton pays a median £56,000 vs £44,000 in Cardiff
— a gross difference of £12,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Brighton professionals
have £153/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 Cardiff?
+
In Brighton: gross £56,000 → £3,586/month net take-home.
In Cardiff: gross £44,000 → £2,933/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,186/month
vs Cardiff's £2,033/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches Brighton purchasing power?
+
Approximately £43,700 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£56,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of
82 (Brighton) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is Brighton or Cardiff cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100).
Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Cardiff.
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 Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 31%.