Oxford vs Sheffield
Oxford wins on purchasing power. Oxford data scientists have £247/month more disposable income after rent than their Sheffield counterparts.
After paying rent, a data scientist in Oxford retains £247/month more than in Sheffield — that's £2,964/year extra in purchasing power.
Oxford vs Sheffield: what the £247/month gap means for a data scientist
On paper, Oxford data scientist roles pay £17,000/year more than Sheffield. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Oxford workers keep £3,925/month versus £3,053/month in Sheffield.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Oxford rent runs £1,450/month versus £825/month in Sheffield. Once housing costs are factored in, Oxford workers have £2,475/month disposable income versus £2,228/month in Sheffield — that is £2,964/year in real spending power.
Oxford's rent-to-income ratio of 37% compares favourably to Sheffield's 27%.
For data scientists prioritising financial freedom, Oxford delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 85 for Oxford and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £63,000 in Oxford delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,700 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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners