Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
Bristol vs Glasgow
Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow software engineers have £23/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.
Bristol salary
£58,000
£3,683/mo take-home
Glasgow salary
£52,000
£3,256/mo take-home
Glasgow wins by
+£23
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow
After paying rent, a software engineer in Glasgow retains £23/month more than in Bristol — that's £276/year extra in purchasing power.
+£23
per month
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£58,000
Net monthly
£3,683
Rent (1-bed)
£1,350
Rent-to-income
37% — Stretched
After rent
£2,333
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,256
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
28% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,356
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £58,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,950 in Glasgow.
Bristol £58,000 ≈
£47,950
in Glasgow
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Bristol
46%
Glasgow
54%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Bristol
£2.85
Glasgow
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
Bristol
£1.90
Glasgow
£1.31
Gym membership
Bristol
£41/mo
Glasgow
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol
£12.00
Glasgow
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in Bristol or Glasgow? +
Bristol pays a median £58,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow
— a gross difference of £6,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals
have £23/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Bristol vs Glasgow? +
In Bristol: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home.
In Glasgow: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,333/month
vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £47,950 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£58,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of
75 (Bristol) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Bristol or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100).
Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Glasgow.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Bristol? +
A software engineer in Bristol earning £58,000 takes home
£3,683/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 37%
(stretched).
In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.