Cambridge vs Edinburgh
Cambridge wins on purchasing power. Cambridge software engineers have £370/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.
After paying rent, a software engineer in Cambridge retains £370/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £4,440/year extra in purchasing power.
Cambridge vs Edinburgh: what the £370/month gap means for a software engineer
On paper, Cambridge software engineer roles pay £13,000/year more than Edinburgh. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cambridge workers keep £4,166/month versus £3,396/month in Edinburgh.
The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cambridge rent runs £1,500/month versus £1,100/month in Edinburgh. Once housing costs are factored in, Cambridge workers have £2,666/month disposable income versus £2,296/month in Edinburgh — that is £4,440/year in real spending power.
Cambridge's rent-to-income ratio of 36% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 32%.
For software engineers prioritising financial freedom, Cambridge delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.
Cost-of-living equivalence
Based on a cost-of-living index of 87 for Cambridge and 72 for Edinburgh, a salary of £68,000 in Cambridge delivers equivalent purchasing power to £56,300 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
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