United Kingdom is 5.0% cheaper — but purchasing power is 5.1% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.
Compared to Australia. Green = cheaper or better in United Kingdom. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 32 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇦🇺 Australia | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 72.6 | 69 | -5% |
| Rent | 39.9 | 32.6 | -18.3% |
| Groceries | 81.8 | 63.9 | -21.9% |
| Restaurants | 70.2 | 76.5 | +9% |
| Purchasing Power | 137.3 | 130.3 | -5.1% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Sydney vs London.
| Gross | 🇦🇺 Net in Australia | 🇬🇧 Net in United Kingdom | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €287,933 | €32,320 | -€255,613 |
| €60,000 | €49,208 | €45,358 | -€3,850 |
| €80,000 | €62,808 | €56,958 | -€5,850 |
| €100,000 | €76,408 | €68,558 | -€7,850 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Sydney and London (2026). Try the full calculator
Tax Calculators
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.
Calculate Your Take-Home PayTop Cities in Each Country
National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 77.5 | 52.6 | 118.6 |
| Melbourne | 74.4 | 39.9 | 140.8 |
| Brisbane | 68.2 | 38.9 | 148.4 |
| Perth | 70.3 | 37.4 | 148.1 |
| Canberra | 74.8 | 37 | 136.5 |
| City | CoL | Rent | PP |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | 87.9 | 64.2 | 122 |
| Manchester | 66.1 | 35.6 | 122.5 |
| Edinburgh | 70.8 | 35.1 | 127.6 |
| Birmingham | 68.1 | 29.4 | 141 |
| Guildford | 76.9 | 39.5 | 118.7 |
City-to-City Comparisons
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Australia and United Kingdom.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.