United Statesvs
United KingdomUnited States vs United Kingdom: salary, tax & cost of living
Average wage, take-home after tax and cost of living, side by side — on real OECD wage data, PPP-adjusted. The headline salary and the net paycheck don't always point the same way.
United States leaves the bigger net paycheck on the average wage.
Highest headline salary isn't always the most in your pocket — here's who takes each dimension:
United StatesUnited StatesUnited StatesUnited KingdomHead to head
United States vs United Kingdom, visualised
The exact figures:
| Metric | United States | United Kingdom | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average wage (PPP) | $82,933 | $63,691 | United States |
| Payroll deduction | 25% | 26% | United States |
| Net take-home (avg wage) | $62,490 | $47,131 | United States |
| Cost index (NY=100) | 100 | 70 | United Kingdom |
Average wage: OECD (PPP). Tax is an effective single-filer rate at the average wage; cost index is each country's anchor city (New York / London).
Purchasing power
Where does the average salary go further, United States or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom. Adjusted for local prices, the average net wage in United Kingdom buys about $67,330 of NY-baseline living costs per year vs $62,490 — a 7% gap.
Formula: net average wage ÷ (cost index / 100). Based on OECD average full-time wages (PPP), not median household income — averages skew above the median.
Distance
How far is United States from United Kingdom?
United States is about 5,570 km (3,460 mi) from United Kingdom in a straight line — roughly 7 h 20 m of nonstop flight time.
Great-circle distance, not a routed itinerary; flight estimate assumes ~850 km/h cruise plus 45 minutes of taxi, climb and descent. Measured between the anchor cities New York and London.
Climate
Is New York warmer than London?
New York is the warmer city: January highs average 4°C vs 8°C, and July 30°C vs 23°C. New York gets noticeably more sun — about 935 more sunshine hours per year.
| Month | New York | London |
|---|---|---|
| January (high / low) | 4° / -3°C | 8° / 2°C |
| July (high / low) | 30° / 21°C | 23° / 14°C |
Continental humid. Hot humid summers, cold snowy winters, dramatic seasonal swings — the postcard four seasons.
Famously gray and damp. Mild winters compared to continental peers, cool summers — heatwaves above 30°C still rare.
Remote work logistics
Time zones and language: New York vs London
New York (America/New_York) and London (Europe/London) sit 5 hours apart in standard time. A 9-to-5 in one overlaps the other's for 3 hours a day.
Official: English · English: Native-equivalent · Local language: Not needed
English-native, extremely multilingual in practice (Spanish, Mandarin, Yiddish neighborhoods). English suffices for everything; other languages help in specific communities.
Official: English · English: Native-equivalent · Local language: Not needed
English-native. Multicultural enough that other languages are common in specific neighborhoods but English is the universal default for everything.
Data signals
What actually separates them
Who keeps more
On the average wage, United States leaves the bigger net paycheck — about $15,359 more per year ($62,490 in United States vs $47,131 in United Kingdom, PPP).
Payroll deduction
United States takes less off the top: ~25% vs ~26% combined income tax + social security.
Cost of living
United Kingdom is the cheaper base: cost index 70 vs 100 (New York / London, New York = 100). Higher net pay doesn't help if rent eats it.
Purchasing power
Adjusted for local prices, the average net wage goes further in United Kingdom: $67,330 vs $62,490 of NY-baseline living costs per year. Based on OECD average full-time wages (PPP), not median household income.
Banking & transfers for either move
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FAQ
- Is the average salary higher in United States or United Kingdom?
- United States has the higher OECD average wage: $82,933 in United States vs $63,691 in United Kingdom (PPP-adjusted). But after tax, United States keeps more net.
- Where do you take home more after tax?
- United States — about $15,359 more net per year on the average wage, once income tax and social security are applied.
- Which is cheaper to live in?
- United Kingdom, by cost index (New York 100 vs London 70, NY = 100). Weigh net pay against cost together, not separately.
- Where does the average salary go further, United States or United Kingdom?
- United Kingdom. Adjusted for local prices, the average net wage in United Kingdom buys about $67,330 of NY-baseline living costs per year vs $62,490 — a 7% gap. Based on OECD average full-time wages (PPP), not median household income — averages skew above the median.