Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Glasgow

Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow data scientists have £76/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£55,000
£3,538/mo take-home
Glasgow salary
£50,000
£3,164/mo take-home
Glasgow wins by
+£76
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow

After paying rent, a data scientist in Glasgow retains £76/month more than in Bristol — that's £912/year extra in purchasing power.

+£76
per month
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
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £50,000
Net monthly £3,164
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 28% — Comfortable
After rent £2,264

Bristol vs Glasgow: what the £76/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Bristol data scientist roles pay £5,000/year more than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,538/month versus £3,164/month in Glasgow.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in, Glasgow workers have £2,264/month disposable income versus £2,188/month in Bristol — that is £912/year in real spending power.

Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 28% compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Glasgow Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £900 -33%
Transport £80 £55 -31%
Council tax £148 £148 0%
Groceries £285 £265 -7%
Disposable income remaining £1,539 £1,666 +8%

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 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £55,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £45,450 in Glasgow.

Bristol £55,000 ≈
£45,450
in Glasgow

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 43%
Glasgow 53%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Glasgow £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Glasgow £1.31
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Glasgow £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Glasgow £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Bristol or Glasgow? +
Bristol pays a median £55,000 vs £50,000 in Glasgow — a gross difference of £5,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals have £76/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 Glasgow? +
In Bristol: gross £55,000£3,538/month net take-home. In Glasgow: gross £50,000£3,164/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,188/month vs Glasgow's £2,264/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £45,450 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Bristol or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Glasgow.
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 Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Glasgow

Afford Bristol on £55,000? Afford Glasgow on £50,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Glasgow Standard of living: Data Scientist in Bristol Standard of living: Data Scientist in Glasgow

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