Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026

London vs Liverpool

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool data scientists have £477/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.

London salary
£68,000
£4,166/mo take-home
Liverpool salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£477
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a data scientist in Liverpool retains £477/month more than in London — that's £5,724/year extra in purchasing power.

+£477
per month
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £68,000
Net monthly £4,166
Rent (1-bed) £2,150
Rent-to-income 52% — High pressure
After rent £2,016
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

London vs Liverpool: what the £477/month gap means for a data scientist

On paper, London data scientist roles pay £18,000/year more than Liverpool. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — London workers keep £4,166/month versus £3,293/month in Liverpool.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average London rent runs £2,150/month versus £800/month in Liverpool. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £2,493/month disposable income versus £2,016/month in London — that is £5,724/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 24% compares favourably to London's 52%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category London Liverpool Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £2,150 £800 -63%
Transport £185 £70 -62%
Council tax £165 £115 -30%
Groceries £320 £260 -19%
Disposable income remaining £1,204 £1,915 +59%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 62 for Liverpool, a salary of £68,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £42,150 in Liverpool.

London £68,000 ≈
£42,150
in Liverpool

Income retention after all essentials

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

London 29%
Liverpool 58%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
London £3.80
Liverpool £2.36
Transit (single trip)
London £4.40
Liverpool £1.67
Gym membership
London £55/mo
Liverpool £34/mo
Cinema ticket
London £16.00
Liverpool £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a data scientist earn more in London or Liverpool? +
London pays a median £68,000 vs £50,000 in Liverpool — a gross difference of £18,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals have £477/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in London vs Liverpool? +
In London: gross £68,000£4,166/month net take-home. In Liverpool: gross £50,000£3,293/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,016/month vs Liverpool's £2,493/month.
What salary in Liverpool matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £42,150 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £68,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of 100 (London) vs 62 (Liverpool).
Is London or Liverpool cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 100 for London (London = 100). Rent in London averages £2,150/month (1-bed) vs £800/month in Liverpool.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in London? +
A data scientist in London earning £68,000 takes home £4,166/month. With median 1-bed rent of £2,150/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 52% (high pressure). In Liverpool the equivalent ratio is 24%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for London and Liverpool

Afford London on £70,000? Afford Liverpool on £50,000? Salary equivalence: London → Liverpool Standard of living: Data Scientist in London 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