Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge
After paying rent, a financial analyst in Cambridge retains
£140/month more than in Leeds —
that's £1,680/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£64,000
Net monthly
£3,973
Rent (1-bed)
£1,500
Rent-to-income
38% — Stretched
After rent
£2,473
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£49,000
Net monthly
£3,233
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
28% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,333
Cambridge vs Leeds: what the £140/month gap means for a financial analyst
On paper, Cambridge financial analyst roles pay £15,000/year
more than Leeds. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,973/month versus
£3,233/month in Leeds.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month
versus £900/month in Leeds. Once housing costs are factored in,
Cambridge workers have £2,473/month
disposable income versus £2,333/month in Leeds —
that is £1,680/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 38%
compares favourably to Leeds's 28%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Cambridge |
Leeds |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£1,500 |
£900 |
-40% |
| Transport |
£75 |
£65 |
-13% |
| Council tax |
£155 |
£112 |
-28% |
| Groceries |
£300 |
£270 |
-10% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,803 |
£1,751 |
-3% |
Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge
and 66 for Leeds,
a salary of £64,000 in Cambridge delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £48,550 in Leeds.
Cambridge £64,000 ≈
£48,550
in Leeds
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
Cappuccino
Cambridge
£3.31
Leeds
£2.51
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge
£1.79
Leeds
£1.55
Gym membership
Cambridge
£48/mo
Leeds
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge
£13.92
Leeds
£10.56
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Best match
Amex Gold
Earn points on everyday spending
Annual fee: £140
Apply Now
Travel rewards
Barclaycard Avios
Collect Avios on every purchase
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Cashback
Chase UK Cashback
1% cashback, no annual fee
Annual fee: £0
Apply Now
Frequently asked questions
Does a financial analyst earn more in Cambridge or Leeds?
+
Cambridge pays a median £64,000 vs £49,000 in Leeds
— a gross difference of £15,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals
have £140/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a financial analyst in Cambridge vs Leeds?
+
In Cambridge: gross £64,000 → £3,973/month net take-home.
In Leeds: gross £49,000 → £3,233/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,473/month
vs Leeds's £2,333/month.
What salary in Leeds matches Cambridge purchasing power?
+
Approximately £48,550 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£64,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of
87 (Cambridge) vs 66 (Leeds).
Is Cambridge or Leeds cheaper to live in?
+
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100).
Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Leeds.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a financial analyst in Cambridge?
+
A financial analyst in Cambridge earning £64,000 takes home
£3,973/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,500/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 38%
(stretched).
In Leeds the equivalent ratio is 28%.