Salary Equivalence · London → Glasgow · 2026

What does £90,000 in London
equal in Glasgow?

Based on cost-of-living indices (London 100 vs Glasgow 62, London = 100), £90,000 in London has the same purchasing power as approximately £55,800 in Glasgow. Glasgow is 38% cheaper overall.

London salary
£90,000
COL index 100
Glasgow equivalent
£55,800
COL index 62
COL difference
38%
Glasgow is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Glasgow
£55,800
= £90,000 in London after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 100 → 62 (London = 100)

Cost Comparison — London vs Glasgow

Metric London Glasgow Difference
COL index 100 62 −38 pts
1-bed rent £2,050/mo £900/mo −£1,150/mo
Monthly rent saving £1,150/mo
Annual rent saving £13,800/yr

COL indices from Numbeo 2025 (London = 100). Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median for a 1-bed flat.

Relocation Financial Impact

Moving from London to Glasgow saves £1,150/month on rent alone (£2,050 → £900/mo).

£13,800/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 38% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £55,800 in Glasgow is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — London → Glasgow

£80,000 → £49,600 £100,000 → £62,000

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Glasgow matches £90,000 in London? +
£55,800 in Glasgow provides the same purchasing power as £90,000 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? +
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? +
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: £90,000 × (62 ÷ 100) = £55,800. 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? +
Financially, yes — up to 38% less. Any offer above £55,800 in Glasgow is a real-terms pay rise compared to your London salary of £90,000. You'd also save £1,150/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

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