Aberdeen vs Edinburgh
Aberdeen wins on purchasing power. Aberdeen oil & gas / energy engineers have £703/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
After paying rent, a oil & gas / energy engineer in Aberdeen retains £703/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £8,436/year extra in purchasing power.
Aberdeen vs Edinburgh: what the £703/month gap means for a oil & gas / energy engineer
On paper, Aberdeen oil & gas / energy engineer roles pay £14,000/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Aberdeen workers keep £4,189/month versus £3,536/month in Edinburgh.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Aberdeen rent runs £1,050/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Aberdeen workers have £3,139/month disposable income versus £2,436/month in Edinburgh — that is £8,436/year in real spending power.
Aberdeen's rent-to-income ratio of 25% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 31%.
For oil & gas / energy engineers prioritising financial freedom, Aberdeen delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 73 for Aberdeen and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £72,000 in Aberdeen delivers equivalent purchasing power to £71,000 in Edinburgh.
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
Financial tools
Popular products for UK earners