Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Brighton vs Glasgow

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

Brighton pays £58,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow. After living costs, Glasgow professionals have £73/month more disposable income.

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

In Brighton: £3,683/month net. In Glasgow: £3,256/month net. After rent, Brighton leaves £2,283/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

Q: What salary in Glasgow matches Brighton purchasing power?

Approximately £43,850 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,000 in Brighton, based on a COL index of 82 vs 62.

Q: Is Brighton or Glasgow cheaper to live in?

Glasgow is cheaper (COL 62 vs 82). Rent: Brighton £1,400/mo vs Glasgow £900/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 Glasgow the equivalent is 28%.

Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow software engineers have £73/month more disposable income after rent than their Brighton counterparts.

Brighton salary

£58,000

£3,683/mo take-home

Glasgow salary

£52,000

£3,256/mo take-home

Glasgow wins by

+£73

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Glasgow

After paying rent, a software engineer in Glasgow retains £73/month more than in Brighton — that's £876/year extra in purchasing power.

+£73

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

Glasgow

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £52,000

Net monthly £3,256

Rent (1-bed) £900

Rent-to-income 28% — Comfortable

After rent £2,356

Brighton vs Glasgow: what the £73/month gap means for a software engineer

On paper, Brighton software engineer roles pay £6,000/year more than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Brighton workers keep £3,683/month versus £3,256/month in Glasgow.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Brighton rent runs £1,400/month versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in, Glasgow workers have £2,356/month disposable income versus £2,283/month in Brighton — that is £876/year in real spending power.

Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 28% compares favourably to Brighton's 38%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category	Brighton	Glasgow	Delta
Rent (1-bed median)	£1,400	£900	-36%
Transport	£80	£55	-31%
Council tax	£155	£148	-5%
Groceries	£295	£265	-10%
Disposable income remaining	£1,613	£1,758	+9%

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 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £58,000 in Brighton delivers equivalent purchasing power to £43,850 in Glasgow.

Brighton £58,000 ≈

£43,850

in Glasgow

Income retention after all essentials

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

Brighton 44%

Glasgow 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino

Brighton £3.12

Glasgow £2.36

Transit (single trip)

Brighton £1.90

Glasgow £1.31

Gym membership

Brighton £45/mo

Glasgow £34/mo

Cinema ticket

Brighton £13.12

Glasgow £9.92

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

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

Brighton pays a median £58,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow — a gross difference of £6,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals have £73/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 Glasgow? +

In Brighton: gross £58,000 → £3,683/month net take-home. In Glasgow: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Brighton leaves £2,283/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

What salary in Glasgow matches Brighton purchasing power? +

Approximately £43,850 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,000 in Brighton, based on a cost-of-living index of 82 (Brighton) vs 62 (Glasgow).

Is Brighton or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +

Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 82 for Brighton (London = 100). Rent in Brighton averages £1,400/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Glasgow.

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 Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.