Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Edinburgh

Q: Does a software engineer earn more in Brighton or Edinburgh?

Brighton pays £58,000 vs £55,000 in Edinburgh. After living costs, Edinburgh professionals have £13/month more disposable income.

Q: What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Brighton vs Edinburgh?

In Brighton: £3,683/month net. In Edinburgh: £3,396/month net. After rent, Brighton leaves £2,283/month vs Edinburgh's £2,296/month.

Q: What salary in Edinburgh matches Brighton purchasing power?

Approximately £50,950 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,000 in Brighton, based on a COL index of 82 vs 72.

Q: Is Brighton or Edinburgh cheaper to live in?

Edinburgh is cheaper (COL 72 vs 82). Rent: Brighton £1,400/mo vs Edinburgh £1,100/mo.

Q: What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Brighton?

A software engineer in Brighton has a rent-to-income ratio of 38% (stretched). In Edinburgh the equivalent is 32%.

Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh software engineers have £13/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary

£58,000

£3,683/mo take-home

Edinburgh salary

£55,000

£3,396/mo take-home

Edinburgh wins by

+£13

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Edinburgh

After paying rent, a software engineer in Edinburgh retains £13/month more than in Brighton — that's £156/year extra in purchasing power.

+£13

per month

Brighton

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £58,000

Net monthly £3,683

Rent (1-bed) £1,400

Rent-to-income 38% — Stretched

After rent £2,283

Edinburgh

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £55,000

Net monthly £3,396

Rent (1-bed) £1,100

Rent-to-income 32% — Comfortable

After rent £2,296

Brighton vs Edinburgh: what the £13/month gap means for a software engineer

On paper, Brighton software engineer roles pay £3,000/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,683/month versus £3,396/month in Edinburgh.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Edinburgh workers have £2,296/month disposable income versus £2,283/month in Brighton — that is £156/year in real spending power.

Edinburgh's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to Brighton's 38%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category	Brighton	Edinburgh	Delta
Rent (1-bed median)	£1,400	£1,100	-21%
Transport	£80	£62	-22%
Council tax	£155	£155	0%
Groceries	£295	£280	-5%
Disposable income remaining	£1,613	£1,669	+3%

Sources: ONS ASHE 2025 · Rightmove Q4 2025 · HMRC 2025/26 · Numbeo 2025

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 82 for Brighton and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £58,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £50,950 in Edinburgh.

Brighton £58,000 ≈

£50,950

in Edinburgh

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 44%

Edinburgh 49%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino

Brighton £3.12

Edinburgh £2.74

Transit (single trip)

Brighton £1.90

Edinburgh £1.48

Gym membership

Brighton £45/mo

Edinburgh £40/mo

Cinema ticket

Brighton £13.12

Edinburgh £11.52

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

Does a software engineer earn more in Brighton or Edinburgh? +

Brighton pays a median £58,000 vs £55,000 in Edinburgh — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals have £13/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.

What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Brighton vs Edinburgh? +

In Brighton: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home. In Edinburgh: gross £55,000 → £3,396/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,283/month vs Edinburgh's £2,296/month.

What salary in Edinburgh matches Brighton purchasing power? +

Approximately £50,950 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 72 (Edinburgh).

Is Brighton or Edinburgh cheaper to live in? +

Edinburgh is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 72 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £1,100/month in Edinburgh.

What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Brighton? +

A software engineer in Brighton earning £58,000 takes home £3,683/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,400/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 38% (stretched). In Edinburgh the equivalent ratio is 32%.