United Kingdom offers both lower prices and stronger purchasing power than France. Your salary stretches further on nearly every expense.
Compared to France. Green = cheaper or better in United Kingdom. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 35 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇫🇷 France | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 70 | 69 | -1.4% |
| Rent | 22.9 | 32.6 | +42.4% |
| Groceries | 77.9 | 63.9 | -18% |
| Restaurants | 68.7 | 76.5 | +11.4% |
| Purchasing Power | 123.3 | 130.3 | +5.7% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Paris vs London.
| Gross | 🇫🇷 Net in France | 🇬🇧 Net in United Kingdom | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €29,480 | €32,320 | +€2,840 |
| €60,000 | €40,975 | €45,358 | +€4,383 |
| €80,000 | €52,532 | €56,958 | +€4,426 |
| €100,000 | €64,088 | €68,558 | +€4,470 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Paris 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 77.5 | 39 | 124.9 |
| Lyon | 71.3 | 21.6 | 128.5 |
| Marseille | 72.8 | 20.2 | 109 |
| Toulouse | 68.6 | 19.2 | 125.1 |
| Nice | 74.9 | 26.8 | 101.8 |
| 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 France and United Kingdom.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.