Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Sheffield

Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield data scientists have £42/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£42
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield

After paying rent, a data scientist in Sheffield retains £42/month more than in Brighton — that's £504/year extra in purchasing power.

+£42
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 27% — Comfortable
After rent £2,228

Brighton vs Sheffield: what the £42/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Brighton data scientist roles pay £10,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,586/month versus £3,053/month in Sheffield.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Sheffield workers have £2,228/month disposable income versus £2,186/month in Brighton — that is £504/year in real spending power.

Sheffield's rent-to-income ratio of 27% compares favourably to Brighton's 39%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £825 -41%
Transport £80 £65 -19%
Council tax £155 £126 -19%
Groceries £295 £265 -10%
Disposable income remaining £1,516 £1,638 +8%

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 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £56,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £43,000 in Sheffield.

Brighton £56,000 ≈
£43,000
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 42%
Sheffield 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Brighton or Sheffield? +
Brighton pays a median £56,000 vs £46,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £10,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals have £42/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 Sheffield? +
In Brighton: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,186/month vs Sheffield's £2,228/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £43,000 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Brighton or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 27%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and Sheffield

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

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