Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Exeter

Brighton wins on purchasing power. Brighton data scientists have £253/month more disposable income after rent than their Exeter counterparts.

Brighton salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Exeter salary
£44,000
£2,933/mo take-home
Brighton wins by
+£253
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Brighton

After paying rent, a data scientist in Brighton retains £253/month more than in Exeter — that's £3,036/year extra in purchasing power.

+£253
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
Exeter
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £44,000
Net monthly £2,933
Rent (1-bed) £1,000
Rent-to-income 34% — Stretched
After rent £1,933

Brighton vs Exeter: what the £253/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Brighton data scientist roles pay £12,000/year more than Exeter. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,586/month versus £2,933/month in Exeter.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £1,000/month in Exeter. Once housing costs are factored in, Brighton workers have £2,186/month disposable income versus £1,933/month in Exeter — that is £3,036/year in real spending power.

Brighton's rent-to-income ratio of 39% compares favourably to Exeter's 34%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton Exeter Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £1,000 -29%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £155 £125 -19%
Groceries £295 £272 -8%
Disposable income remaining £1,516 £1,333 -12%

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 70 for Exeter, a salary of £56,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,800 in Exeter.

Brighton £56,000 ≈
£47,800
in Exeter

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 42%
Exeter 45%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
Exeter £2.66
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
Exeter £1.62
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
Exeter £39/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
Exeter £11.20

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Brighton or Exeter? +
Brighton pays a median £56,000 vs £44,000 in Exeter — a gross difference of £12,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Brighton professionals have £253/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 Exeter? +
In Brighton: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Exeter: gross £44,000£2,933/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,186/month vs Exeter's £1,933/month.
What salary in Exeter matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £47,800 in Exeter delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 70 (Exeter).
Is Brighton or Exeter cheaper to live in? +
Exeter is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 70 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £1,000/month in Exeter.
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 Exeter the equivalent ratio is 34%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and Exeter

Afford Brighton on £55,000? Afford Exeter on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Brighton → Exeter Standard of living: Data Scientist in Brighton Standard of living: Data Scientist in Exeter

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