DevOps Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Glasgow

Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow devops engineers have £206/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary
£60,000
£3,780/mo take-home
Glasgow salary
£58,000
£3,536/mo take-home
Glasgow wins by
+£206
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Glasgow

After paying rent, a devops engineer in Glasgow retains £206/month more than in Bristol — that's £2,472/year extra in purchasing power.

+£206
per month
Bristol
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £60,000
Net monthly £3,780
Rent (1-bed) £1,350
Rent-to-income 36% — Stretched
After rent £2,430
Glasgow
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £58,000
Net monthly £3,536
Rent (1-bed) £900
Rent-to-income 25% — Comfortable
After rent £2,636

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Bristol Glasgow Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £1,350 £900 -33%
Transport £80 £55 -31%
Council tax £148 £148 0%
Groceries £285 £265 -7%
Disposable income remaining £1,781 £2,038 +14%

Sources: LinkedIn 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 75 for Bristol and 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £60,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £49,600 in Glasgow.

Bristol £60,000 ≈
£49,600
in Glasgow

Income retention after all essentials

% of net monthly pay remaining after rent, transport, council tax and groceries

Bristol 47%
Glasgow 58%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Bristol £2.85
Glasgow £2.36
Transit (single trip)
Bristol £1.90
Glasgow £1.31
Gym membership
Bristol £41/mo
Glasgow £34/mo
Cinema ticket
Bristol £12.00
Glasgow £9.92

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Frequently asked questions

Does a devops engineer earn more in Bristol or Glasgow? +
Bristol pays a median £60,000 vs £58,000 in Glasgow — a gross difference of £2,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals have £206/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a devops engineer in Bristol vs Glasgow? +
In Bristol: gross £60,000£3,780/month net take-home. In Glasgow: gross £58,000£3,536/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Bristol leaves £2,430/month vs Glasgow's £2,636/month.
What salary in Glasgow matches Bristol purchasing power? +
Approximately £49,600 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £60,000 in Bristol, based on a cost-of-living index of 75 (Bristol) vs 62 (Glasgow).
Is Bristol or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +
Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 75 for Bristol (London = 100). Rent in Bristol averages £1,350/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Glasgow.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a devops engineer in Bristol? +
A devops engineer in Bristol earning £60,000 takes home £3,780/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 36% (stretched). In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 25%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Bristol and Glasgow

Afford Bristol on £60,000? Afford Glasgow on £60,000? Salary equivalence: Bristol → Glasgow Standard of living: DevOps Engineer in Bristol Standard of living: DevOps Engineer in Glasgow