Cardiff vs Reading
Reading wins on purchasing power. Reading data scientists have £445/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Reading retains £445/month more than in Cardiff — that's £5,340/year extra in purchasing power.
Cardiff vs Reading: what the £445/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Cardiff data scientist roles pay £17,000/year less than Reading. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cardiff workers keep £2,933/month versus £3,828/month in Reading.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month versus £1,350/month in Reading. Once housing costs are factored in, Reading workers have £2,478/month disposable income versus £2,033/month in Cardiff — that is £5,340/year in real spending power.
Reading's rent-to-income ratio of 35% compares favourably to Cardiff's 31%.
For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Reading delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 80 for Reading, a salary of £44,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Reading.
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