Data Scientist · City comparison · 2026
London vs Manchester
Manchester wins on purchasing power. Manchester data scientists have £275/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
London salary
£68,000
£4,166/mo take-home
Manchester salary
£53,000
£3,441/mo take-home
Manchester wins by
+£275
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Manchester
After paying rent, a data scientist in Manchester retains £275/month more than in London — that's £3,300/year extra in purchasing power.
+£275
per month
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
Manchester
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£53,000
Net monthly
£3,441
Rent (1-bed)
£1,050
Rent-to-income
31% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,391
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 68 for Manchester, a salary of £68,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,250 in Manchester.
London £68,000 ≈
£46,250
in Manchester
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
31%
Manchester
51%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Manchester
£2.58
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Manchester
£1.79
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Manchester
£37/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Manchester
£10.88
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Frequently asked questions
Does a data scientist earn more in London or Manchester? +
London pays a median £68,000 vs £53,000 in Manchester
— a gross difference of £15,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Manchester professionals
have £275/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a data scientist in London vs Manchester? +
In London: gross £68,000 → £4,166/month net take-home.
In Manchester: gross £53,000 → £3,441/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,116/month
vs Manchester's £2,391/month.
What salary in Manchester matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,250 in Manchester delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£68,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 68 (Manchester).
Is London or Manchester cheaper to live in? +
Manchester is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 68 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £1,050/month in Manchester.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a data scientist in London? +
A data scientist in London earning £68,000 takes home
£4,166/month. With median 1-bed rent of £2,050/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 49%
(high pressure).
In Manchester the equivalent ratio is 31%.