Frequently Asked Questions
What salary in Glasgow matches £70,000 in London?
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£43,400 in Glasgow provides the same purchasing power as £70,000 in London.
This is based on London's COL index of 100 vs Glasgow's 62 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025).
The 38% cost difference translates directly to a 38% lower equivalent salary.
Is Glasgow significantly cheaper than London?
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Glasgow is 38% cheaper overall than London.
The most visible difference is rent: London averages £2,050/month for a 1-bed flat
vs £900/month in Glasgow
— a saving of £1,150/month (£13,800/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: £70,000 × (62 ÷ 100) = £43,400.
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 London to Glasgow?
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Financially, yes — up to 38% less. Any offer above £43,400 in Glasgow
is a real-terms pay rise compared to your London salary of £70,000.
You'd also save £1,150/month on rent alone, giving you
more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.