Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Edinburgh
London wins on purchasing power. London software engineers have £14/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Edinburgh salary
£55,000
£3,396/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
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
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
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £51,850 in Edinburgh.
London £72,000 ≈
£51,850
in Edinburgh
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Edinburgh
49%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Edinburgh
£2.74
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Edinburgh
£1.48
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Edinburgh
£40/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Edinburgh
£11.52
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Edinburgh? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £55,000 in Edinburgh
— 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 London vs Edinburgh? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Edinburgh: gross £55,000 → £3,396/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Edinburgh's £2,296/month.
What salary in Edinburgh matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £51,850 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 72 (Edinburgh).
Is London or Edinburgh cheaper to live in? +
Edinburgh is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 72 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £1,100/month in Edinburgh.
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 Edinburgh the equivalent ratio is 32%.