Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Bristol
Bristol wins on purchasing power. Bristol software engineers have £23/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Bristol salary
£58,000
£3,683/mo take-home
Bristol wins by
+£23
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Bristol
After paying rent, a software engineer in Bristol retains £23/month more than in London — that's £276/year extra in purchasing power.
+£23
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
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
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 75 for Bristol, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £54,000 in Bristol.
London £72,000 ≈
£54,000
in Bristol
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Bristol
46%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Bristol
£2.85
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Bristol
£1.90
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Bristol
£41/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Bristol
£12.00
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Bristol? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £58,000 in Bristol
— a gross difference of £14,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Bristol 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 London vs Bristol? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Bristol: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Bristol's £2,333/month.
What salary in Bristol matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £54,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 75 (Bristol).
Is London or Bristol cheaper to live in? +
Bristol is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 75 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £1,350/month in Bristol.
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 Bristol the equivalent ratio is 37%.