Winner on purchasing power
Bristol
After paying rent, a data scientist in Bristol retains
£155/month more than in Cardiff —
that's £1,860/year extra in purchasing power.
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£55,000
Net monthly
£3,538
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
38% — Stretched
After rent
£2,188
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
Bristol vs Cardiff: what the £155/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Bristol data scientist roles pay £11,000/year
more than Cardiff. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Bristol workers keep £3,538/month versus
£2,933/month in Cardiff.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month
versus £900/month in Cardiff. Once housing costs are factored in,
Bristol workers have £2,188/month
disposable income versus £2,033/month in Cardiff —
that is £1,860/year in real spending power.
Bristol's rent-to-income ratio of 38%
compares favourably to Cardiff's 31%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Bristol |
Cardiff |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,350 |
£900 |
-33% |
| Transport |
£80 |
£50 |
-37% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£132 |
-11% |
| Groceries |
£285 |
£255 |
-11% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,539 |
£1,463 |
-5% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol
and 64 for Cardiff,
a salary of £55,000 in Bristol delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £46,950 in Cardiff.
Bristol £55,000 ≈
£46,950
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
Bristol
£2.85
Cardiff
£2.43
Transit (single trip)
Bristol
£1.90
Cardiff
£1.19
Gym membership
Bristol
£41/mo
Cardiff
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol
£12.00
Cardiff
£10.24
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Frequently asked questions
Does a data scientist earn more in Bristol or Cardiff?
+
Bristol pays a median £55,000 vs £44,000 in Cardiff
— a gross difference of £11,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol professionals
have £155/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in Bristol vs Cardiff?
+
In Bristol: gross £55,000 → £3,538/month net take-home.
In Cardiff: gross £44,000 → £2,933/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,188/month
vs Cardiff's £2,033/month.
What salary in Cardiff matches Bristol purchasing power?
+
Approximately £46,950 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£55,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of
75 (Bristol) vs 64 (Cardiff).
Is Bristol or Cardiff cheaper to live in?
+
Cardiff is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 64 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Cardiff.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in Bristol?
+
A data scientist in Bristol earning £55,000 takes home
£3,538/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 38%
(stretched).
In Cardiff the equivalent ratio is 31%.