Bristol vs Leeds
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds data scientists have £305/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Leeds retains £305/month more than in Bristol — that's £3,660/year extra in purchasing power.
Bristol vs Leeds: what the £305/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Bristol data scientist roles pay £3,000/year more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,538/month versus £3,393/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,493/month disposable income versus £2,188/month in Bristol — that is £3,660/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 27% compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.
For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Leeds delivers significantly more disposable income despite lower gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 66 for Leeds, a salary of £55,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £48,400 in Leeds.
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners