Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Glasgow

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

Edinburgh pays £55,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow. After living costs, Glasgow professionals have £60/month more disposable income.

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

In Edinburgh: £3,396/month net. In Glasgow: £3,256/month net. After rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,296/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

Q: What salary in Glasgow matches Edinburgh purchasing power?

Approximately £47,350 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Edinburgh, based on a COL index of 72 vs 62.

Q: Is Edinburgh or Glasgow cheaper to live in?

Glasgow is cheaper (COL 62 vs 72). Rent: Edinburgh £1,100/mo vs Glasgow £900/mo.

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

A software engineer in Edinburgh has a rent-to-income ratio of 32% (comfortable). In Glasgow the equivalent is 28%.

Glasgow wins on purchasing power. Glasgow software engineers have £60/month more disposable income after rent than their Edinburgh counterparts.

Edinburgh salary

£55,000

£3,396/mo take-home

Glasgow salary

£52,000

£3,256/mo take-home

Glasgow wins by

+£60

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Glasgow

After paying rent, a software engineer in Glasgow retains £60/month more than in Edinburgh — that's £720/year extra in purchasing power.

+£60

per month

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

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

Edinburgh vs Glasgow: what the £60/month gap means for a software engineer

On paper, Edinburgh software engineer roles pay £3,000/year more than Glasgow. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £3,396/month versus £3,256/month in Glasgow.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £900/month in Glasgow. Once housing costs are factored in, Glasgow workers have £2,356/month disposable income versus £2,296/month in Edinburgh — that is £720/year in real spending power.

Glasgow's rent-to-income ratio of 28% compares favourably to Edinburgh's 32%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category	Edinburgh	Glasgow	Delta
Rent (1-bed median)	£1,100	£900	-18%
Transport	£62	£55	-11%
Council tax	£155	£148	-5%
Groceries	£280	£265	-5%
Disposable income remaining	£1,669	£1,758	+5%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 72 for Edinburgh and 62 for Glasgow, a salary of £55,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £47,350 in Glasgow.

Edinburgh £55,000 ≈

£47,350

in Glasgow

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 49%

Glasgow 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino

Edinburgh £2.74

Glasgow £2.36

Transit (single trip)

Edinburgh £1.48

Glasgow £1.31

Gym membership

Edinburgh £40/mo

Glasgow £34/mo

Cinema ticket

Edinburgh £11.52

Glasgow £9.92

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

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

Edinburgh pays a median £55,000 vs £52,000 in Glasgow — a gross difference of £3,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Glasgow professionals have £60/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.

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

In Edinburgh: gross £55,000 → £3,396/month net take-home. In Glasgow: gross £52,000 → £3,256/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,296/month vs Glasgow's £2,356/month.

What salary in Glasgow matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +

Approximately £47,350 in Glasgow delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 62 (Glasgow).

Is Edinburgh or Glasgow cheaper to live in? +

Glasgow is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £900/month in Glasgow.

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

A software engineer in Edinburgh earning £55,000 takes home £3,396/month. With median 1-bed rent of £1,100/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 32% (comfortable). In Glasgow the equivalent ratio is 28%.