Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
Edinburgh vs London
London wins on purchasing power. London software engineers have £14/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
Edinburgh salary
£55,000
£3,396/mo take-home
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
London wins by
+£14
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
London
After paying rent, a software engineer in London retains £14/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £168/year extra in purchasing power.
+£14
per month
Edinburgh
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£55,000
Net monthly
£3,396
Rent (1-bed)
£1,100
Rent-to-income
32% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,296
London
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£72,000
Net monthly
£4,360
Rent (1-bed)
£2,050
Rent-to-income
47% — High pressure
After rent
£2,310
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 100 for London, a salary of £55,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £76,400 in London.
Edinburgh £55,000 ≈
£76,400
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Edinburgh
49%
London
34%
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in Edinburgh or London? +
Edinburgh pays a median £55,000 vs £72,000 in London
— a gross difference of £17,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, London professionals
have £14/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Edinburgh vs London? +
In Edinburgh: gross £55,000 → £3,396/month net take-home.
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,296/month
vs London's £2,310/month.
What salary in London matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +
Approximately £76,400 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£55,000 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 software engineer in Edinburgh? +
A software engineer in Edinburgh earning £55,000 takes home
£3,396/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 32%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 47%.