Cambridge vs Edinburgh
Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge data scientists have £321/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Cambridge retains £321/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £3,852/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge vs Edinburgh: what the £321/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Cambridge data scientist roles pay £12,000/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £4,070/month versus £3,349/month in Edinburgh.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,570/month disposable income versus £2,249/month in Edinburgh — that is £3,852/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 37% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 33%.
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 87 for Cambridge and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £66,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £54,600 in Edinburgh.
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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