Frequently Asked Questions
What salary in Glasgow matches £55,000 in Bristol?
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£45,450 in Glasgow provides the same purchasing power as £55,000 in Bristol.
This is based on Bristol's COL index of 75 vs Glasgow's 62 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025).
The 17% cost difference translates directly to a 17% lower equivalent salary.
Is Glasgow significantly cheaper than Bristol?
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Glasgow is 17% cheaper overall than Bristol.
The most visible difference is rent: Bristol averages £1,350/month for a 1-bed flat
vs £900/month in Glasgow
— a saving of £450/month (£5,400/year).
How is the salary equivalence calculated?
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SalaryDex uses city-level cost-of-living indices from Numbeo 2025, normalised so London = 100.
The formula is: equivalent = salary × (cityB COL ÷ cityA COL).
For this page: £55,000 × (62 ÷ 75) = £45,450.
The index captures overall cost differences including rent, food, transport, utilities and services.
It does not account for individual tax positions or lifestyle choices.
Should I accept a lower salary to move from Bristol to Glasgow?
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Financially, yes — up to 17% less. Any offer above £45,450 in Glasgow
is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Bristol salary of £55,000.
You'd also save £450/month on rent alone, giving you
more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.