Financial Analyst · City comparison · 2026

Cambridge vs Oxford

Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge financial analysts have £47/month more disposable income after rent than their Oxford counterparts.

Cambridge salary
£64,000
£3,973/mo take-home
Oxford salary
£62,000
£3,876/mo take-home
Cambridge wins by
+£47
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Cambridge

After paying rent, a financial analyst in Cambridge retains £47/month more than in Oxford — that's £564/year extra in purchasing power.

+£47
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
Oxford
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £62,000
Net monthly £3,876
Rent (1-bed) £1,450
Rent-to-income 37% — Stretched
After rent £2,426

Cambridge vs Oxford: what the £47/month gap means for a financial analyst

On paper, Cambridge financial analyst roles pay £2,000/year more than Oxford. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £3,973/month versus £3,876/month in Oxford.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £1,450/month in Oxford. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,473/month disposable income versus £2,426/month in Oxford — that is £564/year in real spending power.

Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 38% compares favourably to Oxford's 37%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Cambridge Oxford Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,500 £1,450 -3%
Transport £75 £80 +7%
Council tax £155 £155 0%
Groceries £300 £300 0%
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 85 for Oxford, a salary of £64,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £62,550 in Oxford.

Cambridge £64,000 ≈
£62,550
in Oxford

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cambridge 45%
Oxford 45%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Cambridge £3.31
Oxford £3.23
Transit (single trip)
Cambridge £1.79
Oxford £1.90
Gym membership
Cambridge £48/mo
Oxford £47/mo
Cinema ticket
Cambridge £13.92
Oxford £13.60

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Frequently asked questions

Does a financial analyst earn more in Cambridge or Oxford? +
Cambridge pays a median £64,000 vs £62,000 in Oxford — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Cambridge professionals have £47/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 Oxford? +
In Cambridge: gross £64,000£3,973/month net take-home. In Oxford: gross £62,000£3,876/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cambridge leaves £2,473/month vs Oxford's £2,426/month.
What salary in Oxford matches Cambridge purchasing power? +
Approximately £62,550 in Oxford delivers equivalent purchasing power to £64,000 in Cambridge, based on a cost-of-living index of 87 (Cambridge) vs 85 (Oxford).
Is Cambridge or Oxford cheaper to live in? +
Oxford is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 85 vs 87 for Cambridge (London = 100). Rent in Cambridge averages £1,500/month (1-bed) vs £1,450/month in Oxford.
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 Oxford the equivalent ratio is 37%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Cambridge and Oxford

Afford Cambridge on £65,000? Afford Oxford on £60,000? Standard of living: Financial Analyst in Cambridge Standard of living: Financial Analyst in Oxford

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