Leeds vs Sheffield
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds data scientists have £265/month more disposable income after rent than their Sheffield counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Leeds retains £265/month more than in Sheffield — that's £3,180/year extra in purchasing power.
Leeds vs Sheffield: what the £265/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Leeds data scientist roles pay £6,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leeds workers keep £3,393/month versus £3,053/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leeds rent runs £900/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Leeds workers have £2,493/month disposable income versus £2,228/month in Sheffield — that is £3,180/year in real spending power.
Leeds's rent-to-income ratio of 27% compares favourably to Sheffield's 27%.
For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Leeds delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 66 for Leeds and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £52,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £49,650 in Sheffield.
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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