Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Glasgow
Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow software engineers have £46/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Glasgow salary
£52,000
£3,256/mo take-home
Glasgow wins by
+£46
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow
After paying rent, a software engineer in Glasgow retains £46/month more than in London — that's £552/year extra in purchasing power.
+£46
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
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£52,000
Net monthly
£3,256
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
28% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,356
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,650 in Glasgow.
London £72,000 ≈
£44,650
in Glasgow
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Glasgow
54%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Glasgow
£2.36
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Glasgow
£1.31
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Glasgow
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Glasgow
£9.92
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Glasgow? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow
— a gross difference of £20,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals
have £46/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 Glasgow? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Glasgow: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £44,650 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is London or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £900/month in Glasgow.
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 Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.