31 cities compared · 2026

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australia vs ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง United Kingdom

United Kingdom is 3.8% cheaper, but purchasing power is 3.5% weaker. Lower prices help, but you'll likely take home less overall.

-3.8%
Cost of Living
-17.2%
Rent
-25.3%
Groceries
+8.3%
Restaurants
-3.5%
Purchasing Power

Compared to Australia. Green = cheaper or better in United Kingdom. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Every Category, Side by Side

Averaged across 31 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง Diff
Cost of Living 55.8 53.7 -3.8%
Rent 40.2 33.3 -17.2%
Groceries 88.2 65.9 -25.3%
Restaurants 74.9 81.1 +8.3%
Purchasing Power 133.9 129.2 -3.5%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Sydney vs London.

Gross ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง Diff
AUD 40,000 ≈ ยฃ21,000 AUD 36,725 ยฃ18,640 -AUD 1,193
AUD 60,000 ≈ ยฃ31,000 AUD 50,715 ยฃ25,840 -AUD 1,458
AUD 80,000 ≈ ยฃ42,000 AUD 64,200 ยฃ33,760 +AUD 155
AUD 100,000 ≈ ยฃ52,000 AUD 77,800 ยฃ40,718 -AUD 182

Single person, no children. Tax rates for Sydney and London (2026). Try the full calculator

Tax Calculators

See detailed income tax brackets and net salary calculations for Australia and United Kingdom.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ
Australia Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง
United Kingdom Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary

These are averages. What about your salary?

Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.

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Top Cities in Each Country

National averages hide a lot. These are the cities most people actually move to.

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ

Australia

City CoL Rent PP
Sydney 65.8 56.4 111.3
Melbourne 59.3 41 135.5
Brisbane 52.4 40.7 139.5
Perth 57.8 38.9 139.2
Hobart 55 31.8 144.8
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง

United Kingdom

City CoL Rent PP
London 78.9 65.4 118.2
Manchester 56 37.2 121.8
Edinburgh 55.3 35.3 123.2
Birmingham 52.3 28.9 169.9
Cambridge 61 44.4 140.8

City-to-City Comparisons

See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Australia and United Kingdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is United Kingdom more expensive than Australia?
United Kingdom is 3.8% cheaper than Australia overall. Rent is 17.2% lower, and groceries are 25.3% cheaper. These figures are averages across 23 cities in United Kingdom and 8 cities in Australia.
Which country has better purchasing power, Australia or United Kingdom?
Australia has an average purchasing power index of 133.9 while United Kingdom has 129.2 (NYC = 100). Australia offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in Australia or United Kingdom?
Average rent in Australia has an index of 40.2 vs 33.3 in United Kingdom (NYC = 100). Rent in United Kingdom is 17.2% lower than in Australia.
How many cities are compared between Australia and United Kingdom?
Our comparison covers 8 cities in Australia and 23 cities in United Kingdom, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

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