Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026
Edinburgh vs London
Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh data scientists have £133/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
Edinburgh salary
£54,000
£3,349/mo take-home
London salary
£68,000
£4,166/mo take-home
Edinburgh wins by
+£133
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Edinburgh
After paying rent, a data scientist in Edinburgh retains £133/month more than in London — that's £1,596/year extra in purchasing power.
+£133
per month
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£54,000
Net monthly
£3,349
Rent (1-bed)
£1,100
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,249
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£68,000
Net monthly
£4,166
Rent (1-bed)
£2,050
Rent-to-income
49% — High pressure
After rent
£2,116
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 100 for London, a salary of £54,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £75,000 in London.
Edinburgh £54,000 ≈
£75,000
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Edinburgh
48%
London
31%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Edinburgh
£2.74
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Edinburgh
£1.48
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Edinburgh
£40/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Edinburgh
£11.52
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data scientist earn more in Edinburgh or London? +
Edinburgh pays a median £54,000 vs £68,000 in London
— a gross difference of £14,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals
have £133/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in Edinburgh vs London? +
In Edinburgh: gross £54,000 → £3,349/month net take-home.
In London: gross £68,000 → £4,166/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,249/month
vs London's £2,116/month.
What salary in London matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £75,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£54,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of
72 (Edinburgh) vs 100 (London).
Is Edinburgh or London cheaper to live in? +
Edinburgh is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 72 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in Edinburgh? +
A data scientist in Edinburgh earning £54,000 takes home
£3,349/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 33%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 49%.