Financial Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Nottingham

Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge financial analysts have £270/month more disposable income after rent than their Nottingham counterparts.

Cambridge salary
£64,000
£3,973/mo take-home
Nottingham salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
Cambridge wins by
+£270
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge

After paying rent, a financial analyst in Cambridge retains £270/month more than in Nottingham — that's £3,240/year extra in purchasing power.

+£270
per month
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
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £46,000
Net monthly £3,053
Rent (1-bed) £850
Rent-to-income 28% — Comfortable
After rent £2,203

Cambridge vs Nottingham: what the £270/month gap means for a financial analyst

On paper, Cambridge financial analyst roles pay £18,000/year more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,973/month versus £3,053/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,473/month disposable income versus £2,203/month in Nottingham — that is £3,240/year in real spending power.

Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Nottingham's 28%.

For financial analysts prioritising financial freedom, Cambridge delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cambridge Nottingham Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,500 £850 -43%
Transport £75 £58 -23%
Council tax £155 £118 -24%
Groceries £300 £260 -13%
Disposable income remaining £1,803 £1,634 -9%

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 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £64,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,350 in Nottingham.

Cambridge £64,000 ≈
£46,350
in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cambridge 45%
Nottingham 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cambridge £3.31
Nottingham £2.39
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge £1.79
Nottingham £1.38
Gym membership
Cambridge £48/mo
Nottingham £35/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge £13.92
Nottingham £10.08

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Frequently asked questions

Does a financial analyst earn more in Cambridge or Nottingham? +
Cambridge pays a median £64,000 vs £46,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £18,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals have £270/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 Nottingham? +
In Cambridge: gross £64,000£3,973/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £46,000£3,053/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,473/month vs Nottingham's £2,203/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Cambridge purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,350 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £64,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of 87 (Cambridge) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Cambridge or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100). Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.
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 Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 28%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cambridge and Nottingham

Afford Cambridge on £65,000? Afford Nottingham on £45,000? Salary equivalence: Cambridge → Nottingham Standard of living: Financial Analyst in Cambridge Standard of living: Financial Analyst in Nottingham

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