Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Birmingham
Birmingham wins on purchasing power. Birmingham software engineers have £233/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Birmingham salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
Birmingham wins by
+£233
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Birmingham
After paying rent, a software engineer in Birmingham retains £233/month more than in London — that's £2,796/year extra in purchasing power.
+£233
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
Birmingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,393
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
25% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,543
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 65 for Birmingham, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,800 in Birmingham.
London £72,000 ≈
£46,800
in Birmingham
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Birmingham
58%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Birmingham
£2.47
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Birmingham
£1.55
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Birmingham
£36/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Birmingham
£10.40
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Birmingham? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £52,000 in Birmingham
— a gross difference of £20,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Birmingham professionals
have £233/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 Birmingham? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Birmingham: gross £52,000 → £3,393/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Birmingham's £2,543/month.
What salary in Birmingham matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £46,800 in Birmingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 65 (Birmingham).
Is London or Birmingham cheaper to live in? +
Birmingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 65 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £850/month in Birmingham.
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 Birmingham the equivalent ratio is 25%.