United Kingdom costs 2.3% more and purchasing power drops 8.3%. Your money buys less across the board.
Compared to Germany. Green = cheaper or better in United Kingdom. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
Every Category, Side by Side
Averaged across 54 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.
| Category | 🇩🇪 Germany | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Living | 70.4 | 72 | +2.3% |
| Rent | 23.5 | 34.4 | +46.4% |
| Groceries | 68.6 | 68.8 | +0.3% |
| Restaurants | 67.5 | 77.6 | +15% |
| Purchasing Power | 129.9 | 119.1 | -8.3% |
What You Actually Keep After Taxes
Same gross salary, different tax systems. Annual take-home pay in Berlin vs London.
| Gross | 🇩🇪 Net in Germany | 🇬🇧 Net in United Kingdom | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| €40,000 | €26,453 | €32,320 | +€5,867 |
| €60,000 | €36,938 | €45,358 | +€8,420 |
| €80,000 | €47,279 | €56,958 | +€9,679 |
| €100,000 | €57,580 | €68,558 | +€10,978 |
Single person, no children. Tax rates for Berlin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 73.6 | 34.6 | 111.7 |
| Munich | 79.3 | 40.1 | 129.6 |
| Frankfurt | 73.1 | 34.6 | 137.1 |
| Hamburg | 71.8 | 29.7 | 131.3 |
| Karlsruhe | 75 | 24.3 | 117.4 |
| 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
See exact take-home pay for specific cities between Germany and United Kingdom.
FAQ
Related Country Comparisons
Enter your exact numbers and see your real take-home pay in both countries.