Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Leicester vs Liverpool

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool data scientists have £120/month more disposable income after rent than their Leicester counterparts.

Leicester salary
£48,000
£3,173/mo take-home
Liverpool salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£120
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a data scientist in Liverpool retains £120/month more than in Leicester — that's £1,440/year extra in purchasing power.

+£120
per month
Leicester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £48,000
Net monthly £3,173
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 25% — Comfortable
After rent £2,373
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £50,000
Net monthly £3,293
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 24% — Comfortable
After rent £2,493

Leicester vs Liverpool: what the £120/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Leicester data scientist roles pay £2,000/year less than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leicester workers keep £3,173/month versus £3,293/month in Liverpool.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leicester rent runs £800/month versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £2,493/month disposable income versus £2,373/month in Leicester — that is £1,440/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 24% compares favourably to Leicester's 25%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Leicester Liverpool Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £800 0%
Transport £62 £70 +13%
Council tax £118 £115 -3%
Groceries £258 £260 +1%
Disposable income remaining £1,802 £1,915 +6%

Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 63 for Leicester and 62 for Liverpool, a salary of £48,000 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,250 in Liverpool.

Leicester £48,000 ≈
£47,250
in Liverpool

Income retention after all essentials

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

Leicester 57%
Liverpool 58%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leicester £2.39
Liverpool £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Leicester £1.48
Liverpool £1.67
Gym membership
Leicester £35/mo
Liverpool £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Leicester £10.08
Liverpool £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Leicester or Liverpool? +
Leicester pays a median £48,000 vs £50,000 in Liverpool — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals have £120/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in Leicester vs Liverpool? +
In Leicester: gross £48,000£3,173/month net take-home. In Liverpool: gross £50,000£3,293/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leicester leaves £2,373/month vs Liverpool's £2,493/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches Leicester purchasing power? +
Approximately £47,250 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £48,000 in Leicester, based on a cost-of-living index of 63 (Leicester) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is Leicester or Liverpool cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 63 for Leicester (London = 100). Rent in Leicester averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in Leicester? +
A data scientist in Leicester earning £48,000 takes home £3,173/month. With median 1-bed rent of £800/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 25% (comfortable). In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 24%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leicester and Liverpool

Afford Leicester on £50,000? Afford Liverpool on £50,000? Standard of living: Data Scientist in Leicester Standard of living: Data Scientist in Liverpool

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