Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Newcastle
London wins on purchasing power. London software engineers have £7/month more disposable income after rent than their Newcastle counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Newcastle salary
£46,000
£3,053/mo take-home
London wins by
+£7
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
London
After paying rent, a software engineer in London retains £7/month more than in Newcastle — that's £84/year extra in purchasing power.
+£7
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
Newcastle
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£46,000
Net monthly
£3,053
Rent (1-bed)
£750
Rent-to-income
25% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,303
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 61 for Newcastle, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £43,900 in Newcastle.
London £72,000 ≈
£43,900
in Newcastle
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Newcastle
57%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Newcastle
£2.32
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Newcastle
£1.79
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Newcastle
£34/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Newcastle
£9.76
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Newcastle? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £46,000 in Newcastle
— a gross difference of £26,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, London professionals
have £7/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 Newcastle? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Newcastle: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Newcastle's £2,303/month.
What salary in Newcastle matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £43,900 in Newcastle delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 61 (Newcastle).
Is London or Newcastle cheaper to live in? +
Newcastle is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 61 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £750/month in Newcastle.
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 Newcastle the equivalent ratio is 25%.