Cost of Living · Updated June 2026
New York City vs London Cost of Living Comparison
London is about 31% cheaper than New York City overall in 2026. A single professional spends about $5,759 per month in New York City and $3,980 in London, all-in with centre rent – and to match the lifestyle a $100,000 salary buys in New York City, you would need roughly $79,000 in London.
The biggest lever is housing: a one-bedroom in the centre runs $4,400 in New York City versus $2,800 in London (-36%). Day-to-day costs differ less – groceries ($620 vs $380), utilities ($190 vs $260), and a transit pass ($132 vs $210) – which is why flat CPI comparisons mislead people who rent in the centre.
Cost of living calculator
Equivalent salary
–
–
–
- Budget A
- –
- Budget B
- –
- Rent share of pay A
- –
- Rent share of pay B
- –
Line-by-line, monthly
| Item | A | B | Δ |
|---|
Composite 2026 index incl. centre rent (NYC = 100). Salary figures are gross – taxes not included; pair with the salary after tax calculator.
Key insights
Key insights
- $100,000 in New York City ≈ $79,000 in London on the 2026 composite index.
- Centre rent gap: $4,400 vs $2,800 for a one-bedroom (-36% in London).
- All-in single budgets: $5,759/month in New York City vs $3,980/month in London.
- Family of four: $11,202 vs $7,443 per month.
- Local purchasing power favours New York City when you earn the local average salary.
| Expense | New York City | London | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent – 1-bed, city centre | $4,400 | $2,800 | -36% |
| Rent – 1-bed, outside centre | $3,000 | $2,100 | -30% |
| Rent – 3-bed, city centre | $8,200 | $5,000 | -39% |
| Groceries (single person) | $620 | $380 | -39% |
| Utilities + internet | $190 | $260 | +37% |
| Public transport pass | $132 | $210 | +59% |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal | $30 | $22 | -27% |
| All-in single person budget | $5,759 | $3,980 | -31% |
| All-in family of 4 budget | $11,202 | $7,443 | -34% |
How the New York City → London salary equivalence works
MovingCal scores every city on a composite 2026 cost index that includes rent (New York = 100). New York City scores 100; London scores 79. Equivalent salary is your current salary multiplied by 79/100 – so $100,000 in New York City ≈ $79,000 in London.
Index math is a starting point, not a verdict. Two corrections matter: taxes (gross pay buys different net pay – check the salary after tax calculator for both locations) and housing choice (renting outside the centre cuts the gap to $900/month between these two cities).
Affordability analysis: who comes out ahead?
Measured against local average net salaries ($7,200/month in New York City, $4,400/month in London), a single person's budget consumes 80% of typical take-home pay in New York City and 90% in London. New York City is the easier city to save in on a local salary.
Buying instead of renting changes the picture: property runs $17,500/m² in New York City versus $14,800/m² in London, with typical 2026 mortgage rates of 6.3% and 4.6% respectively. See the rent vs buy pages for both cities before assuming ownership is cheaper.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is London cheaper than New York City in 2026?
London is about 31% cheaper than New York City overall. A single person needs about $5,759 per month in New York City versus $3,980 in London, including rent in the city centre.
What salary in London equals $100,000 in New York City?
Based on the 2026 composite cost index (including rent), you would need roughly $79,000 in London to keep the purchasing power of a $100,000 salary in New York City. Taxes differ too, so run the salary-after-tax calculator for the net picture.
How much higher is rent in New York City?
A one-bedroom in the centre averages $4,400 in New York City and $2,800 in London – a gap of 57%. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the total difference.
How much does a family of 4 need in New York City vs London?
Plan on about $11,202 per month in New York City and $7,443 in London for a family of four renting a three-bedroom in the centre, including groceries, utilities, transport, and a lifestyle margin.
How is this comparison calculated?
MovingCal combines 2026 rent, grocery, utility, transport, and dining estimates into a composite index (New York = 100). New York City scores 100 and London scores 79. Equivalent salary = your salary × (79 ÷ 100).
More on New York City
More on London
More on United States
Keep exploring
Related Cost of Living pages
- New York City vs San Francisco cost of living
- New York City vs Austin salary equivalent
- $150k in New York City vs Miami
- Salary needed in New York City
- Cost of living in New York City for a family
- Dublin vs London salary equivalent
- London vs Berlin salary equivalent
- London childcare costs
- London vs Paris salary equivalent
- Berlin vs London salary equivalent
- Moving to New York City: setup costs
- Moving from New York City to Miami
- Moving from New York City to Charlotte
- Moving to London: setup costs
- Moving to London: setup costs
- Moving from the US to United Kingdom
- Moving from San Francisco to Austin
- Moving from Seattle to Denver
- Moving from Boston to Miami
- Moving from Chicago to Phoenix
- Manhattan Rent Control vs Coop
- Rent Stabilized vs NYC Real Estate
- NYC Rent Stabilized vs New Jersey
- Rent Stabilized Opportunity Cost
- Rent Control Calculator Manhattan
- Rent Stabilized vs Condo Breakeven
- Rent vs buy in Manhattan
- Rent Stabilized vs Buying Condo NYC
- Rent vs buy in London
- Rent vs buy in Boston
Plan the whole move, not just one number.
Every MovingCal tool shares the same 2026 dataset – carry your cities, salary, and countries from one calculator to the next.