Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Aberdeen
London wins on purchasing power. London software engineers have £196/month more disposable income after rent than their Aberdeen counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Aberdeen salary
£50,000
£3,164/mo take-home
London wins by
+£196
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
London
After paying rent, a software engineer in London retains £196/month more than in Aberdeen — that's £2,352/year extra in purchasing power.
+£196
per month
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
Aberdeen
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£50,000
Net monthly
£3,164
Rent (1-bed)
£1,050
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,114
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 73 for Aberdeen, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,550 in Aberdeen.
London £72,000 ≈
£52,550
in Aberdeen
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Aberdeen
47%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Aberdeen
£2.77
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Aberdeen
£1.43
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Aberdeen
£40/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Aberdeen
£11.68
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Aberdeen? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £50,000 in Aberdeen
— a gross difference of £22,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, London professionals
have £196/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in London vs Aberdeen? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Aberdeen: gross £50,000 → £3,164/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Aberdeen's £2,114/month.
What salary in Aberdeen matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £52,550 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 73 (Aberdeen).
Is London or Aberdeen cheaper to live in? +
Aberdeen is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 73 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £1,050/month in Aberdeen.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in London? +
A software engineer in London earning £72,000 takes home
£4,360/month. With median 1-bed rent of £2,050/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 47%
(high pressure).
In Aberdeen the equivalent ratio is 33%.