Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow
After paying rent, a accountant (qualified) in Glasgow retains
£60/month more than in Nottingham —
that's £720/year extra in purchasing power.
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£40,000
Net monthly
£2,683
Rent (1-bed)
£900
Rent-to-income
34% — Stretched
After rent
£1,783
Nottingham
View full breakdown →
Gross salary
£38,000
Net monthly
£2,573
Rent (1-bed)
£850
Rent-to-income
33% — Comfortable
After rent
£1,723
Glasgow vs Nottingham: what the £60/month gap means for a accountant (qualified)
On paper, Glasgow accountant (qualified) roles pay £2,000/year
more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a
different story — Glasgow workers keep £2,683/month versus
£2,573/month in Nottingham.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Glasgow rent runs £900/month
versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in,
Glasgow workers have £1,783/month
disposable income versus £1,723/month in Nottingham —
that is £720/year in real spending power.
Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 34%
compares favourably to Nottingham's 33%.
Monthly cost comparison
All figures monthly · 2025/26
| Category |
Glasgow |
Nottingham |
Delta |
| Rent (1-bed median) |
£900 |
£850 |
-6% |
| Transport |
£55 |
£58 |
+5% |
| Council tax |
£148 |
£118 |
-20% |
| Groceries |
£265 |
£260 |
-2% |
| Disposable income remaining |
£1,185 |
£1,154 |
-3% |
Sources: ONS 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 62 for Glasgow
and 63 for Nottingham,
a salary of £40,000 in Glasgow delivers
equivalent purchasing power to £40,650 in Nottingham.
Glasgow £40,000 ≈
£40,650
in Nottingham
Income retention after all essentials
% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries
Everyday costs
Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025
Cappuccino
Glasgow
£2.36
Nottingham
£2.39
Transit (single trip)
Glasgow
£1.31
Nottingham
£1.38
Gym membership
Glasgow
£34/mo
Nottingham
£35/mo
Cinema ticket
Glasgow
£9.92
Nottingham
£10.08
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Frequently asked questions
Does a accountant (qualified) earn more in Glasgow or Nottingham?
+
Glasgow pays a median £40,000 vs £38,000 in Nottingham
— a gross difference of £2,000.
However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals
have £60/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a accountant (qualified) in Glasgow vs Nottingham?
+
In Glasgow: gross £40,000 → £2,683/month net take-home.
In Nottingham: gross £38,000 → £2,573/month net take-home.
After paying median 1-bed rent, Glasgow leaves £1,783/month
vs Nottingham's £1,723/month.
What salary in Nottingham matches Glasgow purchasing power?
+
Approximately £40,650 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to
£40,000 in Glasgow, based on a cost-of-living index of
62 (Glasgow) vs 63 (Nottingham).
Is Glasgow or Nottingham cheaper to live in?
+
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 63 for Nottingham (London = 100).
Rent in Glasgow averages £900/month (1-bed)
vs £850/month in Nottingham.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a accountant (qualified) in Glasgow?
+
A accountant (qualified) in Glasgow earning £40,000 takes home
£2,683/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month,
the rent-to-income ratio is 34%
(stretched).
In Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 33%.