55 cities compared · 2026

🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

United Kingdom costs 2.2% more and purchasing power drops 6.9%. Your money buys less across the board.

+2.2%
Cost of Living
+48.3%
Rent
+0.3%
Groceries
+15.6%
Restaurants
-6.9%
Purchasing Power

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

Every Category, Side by Side

Germany vs United Kingdom

Averaged across 55 cities. All indices relative to NYC = 100.

Category 🇩🇪 🇬🇧 Diff
Cost of Living 71.3 72.9 +2.2%
Rent 23.4 34.7 +48.3%
Groceries 70.8 71 +0.3%
Restaurants 68.1 78.7 +15.6%
Purchasing Power 135.9 126.5 -6.9%

What You Actually Keep After Taxes

Berlin vs London

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

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

🇩🇪
Germany 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

Germany & United Kingdom

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

🇩🇪

Germany

City CoL Rent PP
Berlin 73.9 34.5 116.6
Munich 80.7 40.8 132
Frankfurt 74.1 34.7 146.2
Hamburg 73 30.5 132.7
Karlsruhe 75.5 24.4 123.9
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

City CoL Rent PP
London 90.2 69.2 110.3
Manchester 70 38.8 115.5
Edinburgh 75.5 36.9 119.2
Birmingham 73.5 30.6 152.9
Guildford 79.5 41.6 115.1

City-to-City Comparisons

Germany ↔ United Kingdom

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

Berlin → London
Berlin → Manchester
Berlin → Edinburgh
Munich → London
Munich → Manchester
Munich → Edinburgh

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is United Kingdom more expensive than Germany?
United Kingdom is 2.2% more expensive than Germany overall. Rent is 48.3% higher, and groceries are 0.3% more expensive. These figures are averages across 23 cities in United Kingdom and 32 cities in Germany.
Which country has better purchasing power, Germany or United Kingdom?
Germany has an average purchasing power index of 135.9 while United Kingdom has 126.5 (NYC = 100). Germany offers better purchasing power, meaning your salary goes further relative to local prices.
Is rent cheaper in Germany or United Kingdom?
Average rent in Germany has an index of 23.4 vs 34.7 in United Kingdom (NYC = 100). Rent in United Kingdom is 48.3% higher than in Germany.
How many cities are compared between Germany and United Kingdom?
Our comparison covers 32 cities in Germany and 23 cities in United Kingdom, with data on cost of living, rent, groceries, restaurants, and purchasing power.

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