Bristol vs Cambridge
Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge data scientists have £382/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Cambridge retains £382/month more than in Bristol — that's £4,584/year extra in purchasing power.
Bristol vs Cambridge: what the £382/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Bristol data scientist roles pay £11,000/year less than Cambridge. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,538/month versus £4,070/month in Cambridge.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £1,500/month in Cambridge. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,570/month disposable income versus £2,188/month in Bristol — that is £4,584/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 37% compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.
For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Cambridge delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 87 for Cambridge, a salary of £55,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £63,800 in Cambridge.
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
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