33 cities compared · 2026

🇫🇷 France vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

United Kingdom is 0.4% pricier, but purchasing power is 7.3% stronger. You pay more but earn proportionally more.

+0.4%
Cost of Living
+45.1%
Rent
-15.5%
Groceries
+11.5%
Restaurants
+7.3%
Purchasing Power

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

Every Category, Side by Side

France vs United Kingdom

Averaged across 33 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 Diff
Cost of Living 71.7 72 +0.4%
Rent 23.7 34.4 +45.1%
Groceries 81.4 68.8 -15.5%
Restaurants 69.6 77.6 +11.5%
Purchasing Power 111 119.1 +7.3%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Paris vs London

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 €29,601 €32,320 +€2,719
€60,000 €41,087 €45,358 +€4,271
€80,000 €52,644 €56,958 +€4,314
€100,000 €64,201 €68,558 +€4,357

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

Tax Calculators

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

🇫🇷
France Tax Calculator
Income tax rates, brackets & net salary
🇬🇧
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.

Calculate Your Take-Home Pay

Top Cities in Each Country

France & United Kingdom

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

🇫🇷

France

City CoL Rent PP
Paris 79.3 40.3 108.5
Lyon 72.9 22.1 120.4
Marseille 74.5 21.7 90.5
Toulouse 71.3 19.6 112.7
Nice 76.4 27.3 93.4
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

City CoL Rent PP
London 90 66.9 98.7
Manchester 69.1 38.4 105
Edinburgh 75.3 36.9 110.8
Birmingham 72.1 30.5 142.7
Guildford 78.5 41.4 109.7

City-to-City Comparisons

France ↔ United Kingdom

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

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is United Kingdom more expensive than France?
United Kingdom is 0.4% more expensive than France overall. Rent is 45.1% higher, and groceries are 15.5% cheaper. These figures are averages across 23 cities in United Kingdom and 10 cities in France.
Which country has better purchasing power, France or United Kingdom?
France has an average purchasing power index of 111 while United Kingdom has 119.1 (NYC = 100). United Kingdom offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in France or United Kingdom?
Average rent in France has an index of 23.7 vs 34.4 in United Kingdom (NYC = 100). Rent in United Kingdom is 45.1% higher than in France.
How many cities are compared between France and United Kingdom?
Our comparison covers 10 cities in France and 23 cities in United Kingdom, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

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These are averages. What about your salary?

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