Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Leicester vs York

Leicester wins on purchasing power. Leicester data scientists have £270/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Leicester salary
£48,000
£3,173/mo take-home
York salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Leicester wins by
+£270
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leicester

After paying rent, a data scientist in Leicester retains £270/month more than in York — that's £3,240/year extra in purchasing power.

+£270
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
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 31% — Comfortable
After rent £2,103

Leicester vs York: what the £270/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Leicester data scientist roles pay £2,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Leicester workers keep £3,173/month versus £3,053/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Leicester rent runs £800/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Leicester workers have £2,373/month disposable income versus £2,103/month in York — that is £3,240/year in real spending power.

Leicester's rent-to-income ratio of 25% compares favourably to York's 31%.

For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Leicester delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Leicester York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £950 +19%
Transport £62 £68 +10%
Council tax £118 £120 +2%
Groceries £258 £270 +5%
Disposable income remaining £1,802 £1,510 -16%

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 68 for York, a salary of £48,000 in Leicester delivers equivalent purchasing power to £51,800 in York.

Leicester £48,000 ≈
£51,800
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Leicester 57%
York 49%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Leicester £2.39
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Leicester £1.48
York £1.62
Gym membership
Leicester £35/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Leicester £10.08
York £10.88

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Leicester or York? +
Leicester pays a median £48,000 vs £46,000 in York — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leicester professionals have £270/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 York? +
In Leicester: gross £48,000£3,173/month net take-home. In York: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Leicester leaves £2,373/month vs York's £2,103/month.
What salary in York matches Leicester purchasing power? +
Approximately £51,800 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £48,000 in Leicester, based on a cost-of-living index of 63 (Leicester) vs 68 (York).
Is Leicester or York cheaper to live in? +
Leicester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 68 for York (London = 100). Rent in Leicester averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
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 York the equivalent ratio is 31%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Leicester and York

Afford Leicester on £50,000? Afford York on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Leicester → York Standard of living: Data Scientist in Leicester Standard of living: Data Scientist in York

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