Cost of Living Comparison Calculator — United Kingdom 2026-27
Compare the real cost of living between major UK cities. Estimate equivalent salary, rent pressure, commuting costs, and moving trade-offs across London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Liverpool.
Thinking of moving? Compare what your salary is really worth.
| London | 100 |
|---|---|
| Manchester | 76 |
| London · Housing | £24,000.00 |
|---|---|
| London · Food | £15,000.00 |
| London · Transport | £9,000.00 |
| London · Other | £27,000.00 |
| Manchester · Housing | £16,320.00 |
| Manchester · Food | £13,500.00 |
| Manchester · Transport | £7,920.00 |
| Manchester · Other | £20,520.00 |
United Kingdom Cost of Living Notes
The equivalent salary formula
The equivalent salary is calculated as: Equivalent = Income × (City B index ÷ City A index). If you earn £100,000 in London (index 100) and want to compare to Manchester (index 76), the equivalent is £100,000 × 76/100 = £76,000.
This means you only need to earn £76,000 in Manchester to maintain the same purchasing power — because everything costs 24% less on average.
Spending weights used
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Housing (rent/mortgage) | 32% of spending |
| Food & groceries | 20% |
| Transport | 12% |
| Utilities & other (healthcare, entertainment, clothing) | 36% |
Weights are based on The ONS Household Expenditure Survey 2015–16 (most recent available), adjusted for post-COVID housing cost changes. Switch to Detailed mode to see estimated annual spending by category.
UK city cost indexes 2026-27Cost index for every major UK city — relative to London = 100
| City | Overall index |
|---|---|
| London | ~£2,200–£2,380 pcm |
| Oxford | ~£1,980–£2,140 pcm |
| Cambridge | ~£1,935–£2,095 pcm |
| Brighton | ~£1,865–£2,025 pcm |
| Edinburgh | ~£1,755–£1,905 pcm |
| Bristol | ~£1,715–£1,855 pcm |
| Manchester | ~£1,495–£1,615 pcm |
| Birmingham | ~£1,450–£1,570 pcm |
| Leeds | 73 — 27% cheaper; strong job market |
| Glasgow | 70 — 30% cheaper; largest Scottish city |
| Cardiff | 68 — 32% cheaper; Welsh capital |
| Liverpool | 67 — 33% cheaper; most affordable major city |
Note: These are composite averages. Costs vary significantly by area and lifestyle. Housing has risen faster than other categories since 2022 — particularly in Bristol and Manchester. Use Numbeo or The ONS CPI for up-to-date local data.
Median rents and house prices across UK cities 2026-27
Median weekly rents (all dwellings, 2026-27 est.)
| City | Est. monthly rent |
|---|---|
| London | ~£650–750/wk |
| Oxford | ~£560–620/wk |
| Cambridge | ~£540–600/wk |
| Brighton | ~£520–580/wk |
| Edinburgh | ~£480–540/wk |
| Bristol | ~£500–560/wk |
| Manchester | ~£460–510/wk |
| Birmingham | ~£440–490/wk |
| Glasgow / Leeds | ~£410–460/wk |
| Liverpool / Cardiff | ~£390–440/wk |
Rents have increased significantly across all cities since 2022. Bristol and Manchester have seen the fastest rent growth. Always check current listings on Rightmove or Zoopla for the specific area you are considering.
How to use this comparison for salary negotiation and relocation planning
Salary negotiation when relocating
When moving from a higher-cost city to a lower-cost city, some employers offer a reduced salary on the basis of lower living costs. Know your number: the equivalent salary from this calculator is your minimum floor. Accepting less than the equivalent means your standard of living drops — you are not just paying for lower costs, you are taking a genuine real-terms pay cut.
When moving to a higher-cost city
Moving from Manchester to London requires approximately a 32% salary increase to maintain the same lifestyle. If the new employer offers less than the equivalent, you need to factor in the lifestyle trade-off explicitly — and model how long it would take to recover the real-terms gap through career progression.
Adjusting for your personal spending pattern
If you spend more than average on housing (e.g. living alone, not sharing), the housing component matters more. If you have a car loan but use public transport in a new city, transport costs drop. Use Standard mode to see the component breakdown and adjust the index manually for your own lifestyle.
What to check before relocating
- Current rental listings in the suburbs you are considering (not city averages)
- Commute cost and time from affordable suburbs to your workplace
- Whether your industry pays a city-specific market rate (check Seek salary data)
- One-off moving costs: removalist, bond, overlapping rent, time off work
- Any state-based tax differences (e.g. stamp duty, payroll tax if self-employed)
Frequently asked Frequently asked questions
How much more expensive is London than Manchester?
London is approximately 24–30% more expensive than Manchester overall, primarily driven by housing. London median rents are around 30–40% higher. Food and transport are comparable. A £100,000 Manchester salary equates to roughly £132,000 in London purchasing power.
Is Birmingham cheaper than London?
Yes — Birmingham is approximately 26% cheaper than London on a composite basis. Housing is the biggest difference. A £100,000 London salary equates to approximately £74,000 in Birmingham. However, Birmingham rents have risen significantly since 2021 and the gap is narrowing.
Is Edinburgh expensive compared to other UK cities?
Edinburgh is the most expensive city in Scotland (index ~84) but still well below London. It has higher housing costs than Glasgow due to limited supply and strong demand. Some sectors (finance, tech) pay competitive salaries that offset the higher cost base.
What is the cheapest major UK city to live in?
Liverpool is consistently among the most affordable major UK cities, with a cost index approximately 33% below London. It has relatively affordable housing, moderate transport costs, and similar food prices to other cities. Glasgow and Cardiff are comparable. All have seen strong regeneration and price growth since 2020.
How do I use this for a city not in the list?
Select “Custom city” in the dropdown and enter your own index number. Set London = 100 as the reference. For data, use Numbeo (numbeo.com), The ONS Consumer Price Index, or CBRE’s annual cost-of-living reports. Smaller cities and towns such as Hull, Sunderland, Stoke, and Sheffield typically have indexes in the 60–70 range.
Where these figures come from
Cost-of-living and inflation figures on this page are drawn from the Office for National Statistics (CPI), the Bank of England (inflation target and monetary policy), and the GOV.UK (minimum wage).
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the ONS — Consumer Price Index.
- Household expenditure & income — the ONS — Household Expenditure Survey.
- Bank of England inflation target — Bank of England — Inflation.
- National minimum wage — GOV.UK — Minimum wages.
- Fuel & energy price data — UK Institute of Petroleum / Ofgem.
Last checked: April 2026. Rates and thresholds are reviewed against the source of record each November, when annual adjustments for the following tax year are published.
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| Inputs | Equivalent income in destination city | Note |
|---|---|---|
| London against Manchester on £55,000 | 76,000 | the capital premium, in one number |
The sources behind this calculator
- American Association of Feline Practitioners — Feline Life Stage Guidelines — the six feline life stages the cat-age page uses
- Wang et al. 2020, Cell Systems — Quantitative translation of dog-to-human aging by conserved remodeling of the DNA methylome — the 16·ln(age)+31 epigenetic formula on the dog-age page
- UK Government — Tips at work — the law on how tips are shared with staff
Last checked: September 2026. Where a page states a convention (a tipping custom, a pet life stage), the page names the body it follows.