Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
London vs Sheffield
Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield software engineers have £158/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
Sheffield salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
Sheffield wins by
+£158
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Sheffield
After paying rent, a software engineer in Sheffield retains £158/month more than in London — that's £1,896/year extra in purchasing power.
+£158
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
Sheffield
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£50,000
Net monthly
£3,293
Rent (1-bed)
£825
Rent-to-income
25% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,468
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 100 for London and 63 for Sheffield, a salary of £72,000 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to £45,350 in Sheffield.
London £72,000 ≈
£45,350
in Sheffield
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
London
34%
Sheffield
57%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
London
£3.80
Sheffield
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
London
£4.40
Sheffield
£1.55
Gym membership
London
£55/mo
Sheffield
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
London
£16.00
Sheffield
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in London or Sheffield? +
London pays a median £72,000 vs £50,000 in Sheffield
— a gross difference of £22,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Sheffield professionals
have £158/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 Sheffield? +
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
In Sheffield: gross £50,000 → £3,293/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, London leaves £2,310/month
vs Sheffield's £2,468/month.
What salary in Sheffield matches London purchasing power? +
Approximately £45,350 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£72,000 in London, based on a cost-of-living index of
100 (London) vs 63 (Sheffield).
Is London or Sheffield cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in London averages £2,050/month (1-bed)
vs £825/month in Sheffield.
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 Sheffield the equivalent ratio is 25%.