Salary Equivalence · Edinburgh → Nottingham · 2026

What does £40,000 in Edinburgh
equal in Nottingham?

Based on cost-of-living indices (Edinburgh 72 vs Nottingham 63, London = 100), £40,000 in Edinburgh has the same purchasing power as approximately £35,000 in Nottingham. Nottingham is 13% cheaper overall.

Edinburgh salary
£40,000
COL index 72
Nottingham equivalent
£35,000
COL index 63
COL difference
13%
Nottingham is cheaper
Equivalent purchasing power in Nottingham
£35,000
= £40,000 in Edinburgh after cost-of-living adjustment
based on COL index 72 → 63 (London = 100)

Why £40,000 in Edinburgh equals £35,000 in Nottingham

The equivalent accounts for the real cost of maintaining the same standard of living. Edinburgh rent averages £1,100/month versus £850/month in Nottingham — a £250/month saving. Beyond rent, Nottingham is overall 13% cheaper across groceries, transport, restaurants, and utilities (Numbeo COL index 63 vs Edinburgh's 72).

To achieve the same disposable income in Nottingham, you would need to earn £35,000 — calculated using Rightmove Q1 2026 rental data and HMRC 2025/26 tax rates. Any offer above £35,000 in Nottingham is a real-terms pay rise.

Cost Comparison — Edinburgh vs Nottingham

Metric Edinburgh Nottingham Difference
COL index 72 63 −9 pts
1-bed rent £1,100/mo £850/mo −£250/mo
Monthly rent saving — — £250/mo
Annual rent saving — — £3,000/yr

COL indices from Numbeo 2025 (London = 100). Rent = Rightmove Q4 2025 median for a 1-bed flat.

Relocation Financial Impact

Moving from Edinburgh to Nottingham saves £250/month on rent alone (£1,100 → £850/mo).

£3,000/yr
annual housing saving

You can accept up to 13% salary reduction and maintain your lifestyle. Any offer above £35,000 in Nottingham is a real-terms pay rise.

Other Salary Points — Edinburgh → Nottingham

£35,000 → £30,650 £45,000 → £39,400 £50,000 → £43,750

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Frequently Asked Questions

What salary in Nottingham matches £40,000 in Edinburgh? +
£35,000 in Nottingham provides the same purchasing power as £40,000 in Edinburgh. This is based on Edinburgh's COL index of 72 vs Nottingham's 63 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025). The 13% cost difference translates directly to a 13% lower equivalent salary.
Is Nottingham significantly cheaper than Edinburgh? +
Nottingham is 13% cheaper overall than Edinburgh. The most visible difference is rent: Edinburgh averages £1,100/month for a 1-bed flat vs £850/month in Nottingham — a saving of £250/month (£3,000/year).
How is the salary equivalence calculated? +
SalaryDex uses city-level cost-of-living indices from Numbeo 2025, normalised so London = 100. The formula is: equivalent = salary × (cityB COL ÷ cityA COL). For this page: £40,000 × (63 ÷ 72) = £35,000. The index captures overall cost differences including rent, food, transport, utilities and services. It does not account for individual tax positions or lifestyle choices.
Should I accept a lower salary to move from Edinburgh to Nottingham? +
Financially, yes — up to 13% less. Any offer above £35,000 in Nottingham is a real-terms pay rise compared to your Edinburgh salary of £40,000. You'd also save £250/month on rent alone, giving you more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.

Related Pages

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