Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Cardiff vs Glasgow

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

Cardiff pays £46,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow. After living costs, Glasgow professionals have £203/month more disposable income.

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

In Cardiff: £3,053/month net. In Glasgow: £3,256/month net. After rent, Cardiff leaves £2,153/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

Q: What salary in Glasgow matches Cardiff purchasing power?

Approximately £44,550 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,000 in Cardiff, based on a COL index of 64 vs 62.

Q: Is Cardiff or Glasgow cheaper to live in?

Glasgow is cheaper (COL 62 vs 64). Rent: Cardiff £900/mo vs Glasgow £900/mo.

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

A software engineer in Cardiff has a rent-to-income ratio of 29% (comfortable). In Glasgow the equivalent is 28%.

Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow software engineers have £203/month more disposable income after rent than their Cardiff counterparts.

Cardiff salary

£46,000

£3,053/mo take-home

Glasgow salary

£52,000

£3,256/mo take-home

Glasgow wins by

+£203

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Glasgow

After paying rent, a software engineer in Glasgow retains £203/month more than in Cardiff — that's £2,436/year extra in purchasing power.

+£203

per month

Cardiff

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £46,000

Net monthly £3,053

Rent (1-bed) £900

Rent-to-income 29% — Comfortable

After rent £2,153

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

Cardiff vs Glasgow: what the £203/month gap means for a software engineer

On paper, Cardiff software engineer roles pay £6,000/year less than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Cardiff workers keep £3,053/month versus £3,256/month in Glasgow.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Cardiff rent runs £900/month versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in, Glasgow workers have £2,356/month disposable income versus £2,153/month in Cardiff — that is £2,436/year in real spending power.

Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 28% compares favourably to Cardiff's 29%.

For software engineers prioritising financial freedom, Glasgow delivers significantly more disposable income despite comparable gross pay.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category	Cardiff	Glasgow	Delta
Rent (1-bed median)	£900	£900	0%
Transport	£50	£55	+10%
Council tax	£132	£148	+12%
Groceries	£255	£265	+4%
Disposable income remaining	£1,583	£1,758	+11%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 64 for Cardiff and 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £46,000 in Cardiff delivers equivalent purchasing power to £44,550 in Glasgow.

Cardiff £46,000 ≈

£44,550

in Glasgow

Income retention after all essentials

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

Cardiff 52%

Glasgow 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino

Cardiff £2.43

Glasgow £2.36

Transit (single trip)

Cardiff £1.19

Glasgow £1.31

Gym membership

Cardiff £35/mo

Glasgow £34/mo

Cinema ticket

Cardiff £10.24

Glasgow £9.92

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

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

Cardiff pays a median £46,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow — a gross difference of £6,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals have £203/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.

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

In Cardiff: gross £46,000 → £3,053/month net take-home. In Glasgow: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Cardiff leaves £2,153/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

What salary in Glasgow matches Cardiff purchasing power? +

Approximately £44,550 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £46,000 in Cardiff, based on a cost-of-living index of 64 (Cardiff) vs 62 (Glasgow).

Is Cardiff or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +

Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 64 for Cardiff (London = 100). Rent in Cardiff averages £900/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Glasgow.

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

A software engineer in Cardiff earning £46,000 takes home £3,053/month. With median 1-bed rent of £900/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 29% (comfortable). In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.