Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
Nottingham vs London
London wins on purchasing power. London software engineers have £47/month more disposable income after rent than their Nottingham counterparts.
Nottingham salary
£47,000
£3,113/mo take-home
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/mo take-home
London wins by
+£47
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
London
After paying rent, a software engineer in London retains £47/month more than in Nottingham — that's £564/year extra in purchasing power.
+£47
per month
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£47,000
Net monthly
£3,113
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
27% — Comfortable
After rent
£2,263
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
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 63 for Nottingham and 100 for London, a salary of £47,000 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £74,600 in London.
Nottingham £47,000 ≈
£74,600
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Nottingham
54%
London
34%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Nottingham
£2.39
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Nottingham
£1.38
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Nottingham
£35/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Nottingham
£10.08
London
£16.00
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in Nottingham or London? +
Nottingham pays a median £47,000 vs £72,000 in London
— a gross difference of £25,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, London professionals
have £47/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Nottingham vs London? +
In Nottingham: gross £47,000 → £3,113/month net take-home.
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Nottingham leaves £2,263/month
vs London's £2,310/month.
What salary in London matches Nottingham purchasing power? +
Approximately £74,600 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£47,000 in Nottingham, based on a cost-of-living index of
63 (Nottingham) vs 100 (London).
Is Nottingham or London cheaper to live in? +
Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Nottingham averages £850/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Nottingham? +
A software engineer in Nottingham earning £47,000 takes home
£3,113/month. With median 1-bed rent of £850/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 27%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 47%.