Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026
Sheffield vs London
Sheffield wins on purchasing power. Sheffield software engineers have £158/month more disposable income after rent than their London counterparts.
Sheffield salary
£50,000
£3,293/mo take-home
London salary
£72,000
£4,360/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
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
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 Sheffield and 100 for London, a salary of £50,000 in Sheffield delivers equivalent purchasing power to £79,350 in London.
Sheffield £50,000 ≈
£79,350
in London
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Sheffield
57%
London
34%
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Sheffield
£2.39
London
£3.80
Transit (single trip)
Sheffield
£1.55
London
£4.40
Gym membership
Sheffield
£35/mo
London
£55/mo
Cinema ticket
Sheffield
£10.08
London
£16.00
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners
Frequently asked questions
Does a software engineer earn more in Sheffield or London? +
Sheffield pays a median £50,000 vs £72,000 in London
— 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 Sheffield vs London? +
In Sheffield: gross £50,000 → £3,293/month net take-home.
In London: gross £72,000 → £4,360/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Sheffield leaves £2,468/month
vs London's £2,310/month.
What salary in London matches Sheffield purchasing power? +
Approximately £79,350 in London delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£50,000 in Sheffield, based on a cost-of-living index of
63 (Sheffield) vs 100 (London).
Is Sheffield or London cheaper to live in? +
Sheffield is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 100 for London (London = 100).
Rent in Sheffield averages £825/month (1-bed)
vs £2,050/month in London.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Sheffield? +
A software engineer in Sheffield earning £50,000 takes home
£3,293/month. With median 1-bed rent of £825/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 25%
(comfortable).
In London the equivalent ratio is 47%.