Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs York

Brighton wins on purchasing power. Brighton data scientists have £83/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Brighton salary
£56,000
£3,586/mo take-home
York salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Brighton wins by
+£83
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Brighton

After paying rent, a data scientist in Brighton retains £83/month more than in York — that's £996/year extra in purchasing power.

+£83
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £2,103

Brighton vs York: what the £83/month gap means for a data scientist

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

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Brighton workers have £2,186/month disposable income versus £2,103/month in York — that is £996/year in real spending power.

Brighton's rent-to-income ratio of 39% compares favourably to York's 31%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Brighton York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,400 £950 -32%
Transport £80 £68 -15%
Council tax £155 £120 -23%
Groceries £295 £270 -8%
Disposable income remaining £1,516 £1,510 0%

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 68 for York, a salary of £56,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,450 in York.

Brighton £56,000 ≈
£46,450
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 42%
York 49%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Brighton £3.12
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Brighton £1.90
York £1.62
Gym membership
Brighton £45/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Brighton £13.12
York £10.88

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Brighton or York? +
Brighton pays a median £56,000 vs £46,000 in York — a gross difference of £10,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Brighton professionals have £83/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 York? +
In Brighton: gross £56,000£3,586/month net take-home. In York: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,186/month vs York's £2,103/month.
What salary in York matches Brighton purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,450 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 68 (York).
Is Brighton or York cheaper to live in? +
York is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Brighton and York

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

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