Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Bristol vs Glasgow

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

Bristol pays £58,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow. After living costs, Glasgow professionals have £23/month more disposable income.

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

In Bristol: £3,683/month net. In Glasgow: £3,256/month net. After rent, Bristol leaves £2,333/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

Q: What salary in Glasgow matches Bristol purchasing power?

Approximately £47,950 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,000 in Bristol, based on a COL index of 75 vs 62.

Q: Is Bristol or Glasgow cheaper to live in?

Glasgow is cheaper (COL 62 vs 75). Rent: Bristol £1,350/mo vs Glasgow £900/mo.

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

A software engineer in Bristol has a rent-to-income ratio of 37% (stretched). In Glasgow the equivalent is 28%.

Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow software engineers have £23/month more disposable income after rent than their Bristol counterparts.

Bristol salary

£58,000

£3,683/mo take-home

Glasgow salary

£52,000

£3,256/mo take-home

Glasgow wins by

+£23

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Glasgow

After paying rent, a software engineer in Glasgow retains £23/month more than in Bristol — that's £276/year extra in purchasing power.

+£23

per month

Bristol

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £58,000

Net monthly £3,683

Rent (1-bed) £1,350

Rent-to-income 37% — Stretched

After rent £2,333

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

Bristol vs Glasgow: what the £23/month gap means for a software engineer

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

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Bristol rent runs £1,350/month versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in, Glasgow workers have £2,356/month disposable income versus £2,333/month in Bristol — that is £276/year in real spending power.

Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 28% compares favourably to Bristol's 37%.

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	£1,684	£1,758	+4%

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 £58,000 in Bristol delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,950 in Glasgow.

Bristol £58,000 ≈

£47,950

in Glasgow

Income retention after all essentials

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

Bristol 46%

Glasgow 54%

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

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

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

Bristol 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 £23/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.

What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Bristol vs Glasgow? +

In Bristol: 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, Bristol leaves £2,333/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

What salary in Glasgow matches Bristol purchasing power? +

Approximately £47,950 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £58,000 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 software engineer in Bristol? +

A software engineer in Bristol earning £58,000 takes home £3,683/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,350/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 37% (stretched). In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.