Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Edinburgh vs Nottingham

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

Edinburgh pays £55,000 vs £47,000 in Nottingham. After living costs, Edinburgh professionals have £33/month more disposable income.

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

In Edinburgh: £3,396/month net. In Nottingham: £3,113/month net. After rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,296/month vs Nottingham's £2,263/month.

Q: What salary in Nottingham matches Edinburgh purchasing power?

Approximately £48,150 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Edinburgh, based on a COL index of 72 vs 63.

Q: Is Edinburgh or Nottingham cheaper to live in?

Nottingham is cheaper (COL 63 vs 72). Rent: Edinburgh £1,100/mo vs Nottingham £850/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 Nottingham the equivalent is 27%.

Edinburgh wins on purchasing power. Edinburgh software engineers have £33/month more disposable income after rent than their Nottingham counterparts.

Edinburgh salary

£55,000

£3,396/mo take-home

Nottingham salary

£47,000

£3,113/mo take-home

Edinburgh wins by

+£33

per month after rent

Winner on purchasing power

Edinburgh

After paying rent, a software engineer in Edinburgh retains £33/month more than in Nottingham — that's £396/year extra in purchasing power.

+£33

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

Nottingham

View full breakdown →

Gross salary £47,000

Net monthly £3,113

Rent (1-bed) £850

Rent-to-income 27% — Comfortable

After rent £2,263

Edinburgh vs Nottingham: what the £33/month gap means for a software engineer

On paper, Edinburgh software engineer roles pay £8,000/year more than Nottingham. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Edinburgh workers keep £3,396/month versus £3,113/month in Nottingham.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Edinburgh rent runs £1,100/month versus £850/month in Nottingham. Once housing costs are factored in, Edinburgh workers have £2,296/month disposable income versus £2,263/month in Nottingham — that is £396/year in real spending power.

Edinburgh's rent-to-income ratio of 32% compares favourably to Nottingham's 27%.

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category	Edinburgh	Nottingham	Delta
Rent (1-bed median)	£1,100	£850	-23%
Transport	£62	£58	-6%
Council tax	£155	£118	-24%
Groceries	£280	£260	-7%
Disposable income remaining	£1,669	£1,694	+1%

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 63 for Nottingham, a salary of £55,000 in Edinburgh delivers equivalent purchasing power to £48,150 in Nottingham.

Edinburgh £55,000 ≈

£48,150

in Nottingham

Income retention after all essentials

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

Edinburgh 49%

Nottingham 54%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino

Edinburgh £2.74

Nottingham £2.39

Transit (single trip)

Edinburgh £1.48

Nottingham £1.38

Gym membership

Edinburgh £40/mo

Nottingham £35/mo

Cinema ticket

Edinburgh £11.52

Nottingham £10.08

Financial tools

Frequently asked questions

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

Edinburgh pays a median £55,000 vs £47,000 in Nottingham — a gross difference of £8,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Edinburgh professionals have £33/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 Nottingham? +

In Edinburgh: gross £55,000 → £3,396/month net take-home. In Nottingham: gross £47,000 → £3,113/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Edinburgh leaves £2,296/month vs Nottingham's £2,263/month.

What salary in Nottingham matches Edinburgh purchasing power? +

Approximately £48,150 in Nottingham delivers equivalent purchasing power to £55,000 in Edinburgh, based on a cost-of-living index of 72 (Edinburgh) vs 63 (Nottingham).

Is Edinburgh or Nottingham cheaper to live in? +

Nottingham is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 63 vs 72 for Edinburgh (London = 100). Rent in Edinburgh averages £1,100/month (1-bed) vs £850/month in Nottingham.

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 Nottingham the equivalent ratio is 27%.