Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

Liverpool vs Sheffield

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool data scientists have £265/month more disposable income after rent than their Sheffield counterparts.

Liverpool salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£265
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a data scientist in Liverpool retains £265/month more than in Sheffield — that's £3,180/year extra in purchasing power.

+£265
per month
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £825
Rent-to-income 27% — Comfortable
After rent £2,228

Liverpool vs Sheffield: what the £265/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, Liverpool data scientist roles pay £4,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Liverpool workers keep £3,293/month versus £3,053/month in Sheffield.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Liverpool rent runs £800/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £2,493/month disposable income versus £2,228/month in Sheffield — that is £3,180/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 24% compares favourably to Sheffield's 27%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Liverpool Sheffield Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £825 +3%
Transport £70 £65 -7%
Council tax £115 £126 +10%
Groceries £260 £265 +2%
Disposable income remaining £1,915 £1,638 -14%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 62 for Liverpool and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £50,000 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £50,800 in Sheffield.

Liverpool £50,000 ≈
£50,800
in Sheffield

Income retention after all essentials

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

Liverpool 58%
Sheffield 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Liverpool £2.36
Sheffield £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Liverpool £1.67
Sheffield £1.55
Gym membership
Liverpool £34/mo
Sheffield £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Liverpool £9.92
Sheffield £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in Liverpool or Sheffield? +
Liverpool pays a median £50,000 vs £46,000 in Sheffield — a gross difference of £4,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals have £265/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in Liverpool vs Sheffield? +
In Liverpool: gross £50,000£3,293/month net take-home. In Sheffield: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Liverpool leaves £2,493/month vs Sheffield's £2,228/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches Liverpool purchasing power? +
Approximately £50,800 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £50,000 in Liverpool, based on a cost-of-living index of 62 (Liverpool) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is Liverpool or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 63 for Sheffield (London = 100). Rent in Liverpool averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £825/month in Sheffield.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in Liverpool? +
A data scientist in Liverpool earning £50,000 takes home £3,293/month. With median 1-bed rent of £800/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 24% (comfortable). In Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 27%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Liverpool and Sheffield

Afford Liverpool on £50,000? Afford Sheffield on £45,000? Standard of living: Data Scientist in Liverpool Standard of living: Data Scientist in Sheffield

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