Salary guide · GB
Software Engineer salary in London: can you afford rent?
A Software Engineer in London typically earns £53,000–£141,000/year, with a median around £84,000/year. Median 1-bedroom rent is £2,300/month.
Affordability verdict
At a typical Software Engineer salary of £84,000/year, spending on median London rent (£2,300/mo) would take up 33% of gross income. That's above the 30% guideline but not uncommon — a manageable situation.
Software Engineer salary range in London
£53,000
Entry level
lower quartile
£84,000
Typical
median estimate
£141,000
Experienced
upper quartile
Software engineers design, build, and maintain applications and systems software. Figures are gross annual salary estimates for London.
How much rent can a Software Engineer afford?
Rent landscape in London
£1,600
Budget
cheapest 10%
£2,300
Median
most common
£3,800
Premium
top 10%
1-bedroom equivalent. ONS Private Rental Market Survey 2024/25 (IPHRP: London rents +8.9% YoY Dec 2024) · 2024–2025
Frequently asked questions
What does a Software Engineer earn in London?
A Software Engineer in London typically earns between £53,000 and £141,000/year, with a median around £84,000/year. Salaries vary by experience, employer, and sector.
Can a Software Engineer afford to live in London?
At a typical Software Engineer salary of £84,000/year, median London rent (£2,300/month) takes up 33% of gross income — above the 30% guideline but not unusual in this market. Budget options in London start around £1,600/month.
How much rent can a Software Engineer afford in London?
On a median Software Engineer salary of £84,000/year, the recommended 30% rent budget is £2,100/month. Compared to London's median rent of £2,300/month, this means some budget trade-offs will be necessary — look at areas below the city median.
Other professions in London
Software Engineer salary in other cities