Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026
Leeds vs London
Leeds wins on purchasing power. Leeds data scientists have £377/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
Leeds salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
London salary
£68,000
£4,166/mo take-home
Leeds wins by
+£377
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Leeds
After paying rent, a data scientist in Leeds retains £377/month more than in London — that's £4,524/year extra in purchasing power.
+£377
per month
Leeds
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,393
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
27% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,493
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 66 for Leeds and 100 for London, a salary of £52,000 in Leeds delivers equivalent purchasing power to £78,800 in London.
Leeds £52,000 ≈
£78,800
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Leeds
56%
London
31%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Leeds
£2.51
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Leeds
£1.55
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Leeds
£36/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Leeds
£10.56
London
£16.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data scientist earn more in Leeds or London? +
Leeds pays a median £52,000 vs £68,000 in London
— a gross difference of £16,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Leeds professionals
have £377/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in Leeds vs London? +
In Leeds: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
In London: gross £68,000 → £4,166/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Leeds leaves £2,493/month
vs London's £2,116/month.
What salary in London matches Leeds purchasing power? +
Approximately £78,800 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£52,000 in Leeds, based on a cost-of-living index of
66 (Leeds) vs 100 (London).
Is Leeds or London cheaper to live in? +
Leeds is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 66 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Leeds averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in Leeds? +
A data scientist in Leeds earning £52,000 takes home
£3,393/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 27%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 49%.