Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Nottingham

Nottingham wins on purchasing power. Nottingham data scientists have £75/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£55,000
£3,538/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£47,000
£3,113/mo take-home
Nottingham wins by
+£75
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Nottingham

After paying rent, a data scientist in Nottingham retains £75/month more than in Bristol — that's £900/year extra in purchasing power.

+£75
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
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £47,000
Net monthly £3,113
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 27% — Comfortable
After rent £2,263

Bristol vs Nottingham: what the £75/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Bristol data scientist roles pay £8,000/year more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Bristol workers keep £3,538/month versus £3,113/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Nottingham workers have £2,263/month disposable income versus £2,188/month in Bristol — that is £900/year in real spending power.

Nottingham's rent-to-income ratio of 27% compares favourably to Bristol's 38%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £850 -37%
Transport £80 £58 -28%
Council tax £148 £118 -20%
Groceries £285 £260 -9%
Disposable income remaining £1,539 £1,694 +10%

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 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £55,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,200 in Nottingham.

Bristol £55,000 ≈
£46,200
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 43%
Nottingham 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Bristol or Nottingham? +
Bristol pays a median £55,000 vs £47,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Nottingham professionals have £75/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 Nottingham? +
In Bristol: gross £55,000£3,538/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £47,000£3,113/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,188/month vs Nottingham's £2,263/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,200 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Bristol or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
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 Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 27%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Nottingham

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

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