Software Engineer · City comparison · 2026

Liverpool vs York

Liverpool wins on purchasing power. Liverpool software engineers have £370/month more disposable income after rent than their York counterparts.

Liverpool salary
£52,000
£3,393/mo take-home
York salary
£48,000
£3,173/mo take-home
Liverpool wins by
+£370
per month after rent
Winner on purchasing power
Liverpool

After paying rent, a software engineer in Liverpool retains £370/month more than in York — that's £4,440/year extra in purchasing power.

+£370
per month
Liverpool
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £52,000
Net monthly £3,393
Rent (1-bed) £800
Rent-to-income 24% — Comfortable
After rent £2,593
York
View full breakdown →
Gross salary £48,000
Net monthly £3,173
Rent (1-bed) £950
Rent-to-income 30% — Comfortable
After rent £2,223

Liverpool vs York: what the £370/month gap means for a software engineer

On paper, Liverpool software engineer roles pay £4,000/year more than York. But take-home after tax and National Insurance tells a different story — Liverpool workers keep £3,393/month versus £3,173/month in York.

The bigger picture is after rent. Average Liverpool rent runs £800/month versus £950/month in York. Once housing costs are factored in, Liverpool workers have £2,593/month disposable income versus £2,223/month in York — that is £4,440/year in real spending power.

Liverpool's rent-to-income ratio of 24% compares favourably to York's 30%.

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

Monthly cost comparison

All figures monthly · 2025/26

Category Liverpool York Delta
Rent (1-bed median) £800 £950 +19%
Transport £70 £68 -3%
Council tax £115 £120 +4%
Groceries £260 £270 +4%
Disposable income remaining £2,015 £1,630 -19%

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

Cost-of-living equivalence

Based on a cost-of-living index of 62 for Liverpool and 68 for York, a salary of £52,000 in Liverpool delivers equivalent purchasing power to £57,050 in York.

Liverpool £52,000 ≈
£57,050
in York

Income retention after all essentials

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

Liverpool 59%
York 51%

Everyday costs

Estimated typical prices · scaled from Numbeo 2025

Cappuccino
Liverpool £2.36
York £2.58
Transit (single trip)
Liverpool £1.67
York £1.62
Gym membership
Liverpool £34/mo
York £37/mo
Cinema ticket
Liverpool £9.92
York £10.88

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Frequently asked questions

Does a software engineer earn more in Liverpool or York? +
Liverpool pays a median £52,000 vs £48,000 in York — a gross difference of £4,000. However, after accounting for rent and living costs, Liverpool professionals have £370/month more disposable income, making it the stronger city in real terms.
What is the take-home pay for a software engineer in Liverpool vs York? +
In Liverpool: gross £52,000£3,393/month net take-home. In York: gross £48,000£3,173/month net take-home. After paying median 1-bed rent, Liverpool leaves £2,593/month vs York's £2,223/month.
What salary in York matches Liverpool purchasing power? +
Approximately £57,050 in York delivers equivalent purchasing power to £52,000 in Liverpool, based on a cost-of-living index of 62 (Liverpool) vs 68 (York).
Is Liverpool or York cheaper to live in? +
Liverpool is cheaper overall, with a cost-of-living index of 62 vs 68 for York (London = 100). Rent in Liverpool averages £800/month (1-bed) vs £950/month in York.
What is the rent-to-income ratio for a software engineer in Liverpool? +
A software engineer in Liverpool earning £52,000 takes home £3,393/month. With median 1-bed rent of £800/month, the rent-to-income ratio is 24% (comfortable). In York the equivalent ratio is 30%.

Explore further

Affordability and salary breakdowns for Liverpool and York

Afford Liverpool on £50,000? Afford York on £50,000? Salary equivalence: Liverpool → York Standard of living: Software Engineer in Liverpool Standard of living: Software Engineer in York

Data sources & methodology

ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2025 · Rightmove Rental Trends Tracker Q1 2026 · Numbeo Cost of Living 2026

Analysis by the SalaryDex data team · May 2026 · Corrections: [email protected] · Full methodology · Data transparency pledge