How much money do you need to earn to live comfortably in London? (2024)

For recent graduates with their sights set on London, there is the all-important question: how much money do you need to earn to live comfortably?

While the entirety of the UK has been experiencing a cost of living crisis since late 2021, it is estimated that London is 27% more expensive to live in than the rest of the UK.

Recruitment firm Reed found in a survey that Londoners estimated a salary of around £65,000 as the minimum required to live comfortably.

For context, the average entry-level salary is £32,500.

A Time Out study estimated that in order to be happy in London, you must be making upwards of £79,500 a year. This figure only covers the top 10 percent of earners in London, and feels widely out of reach for most grads.

The basic financial requirements for happiness vary from person to person, so the figures are largely subjective.

The article also took care to note that how one spends their money is more important in determining happiness than how much they earn, once basic expenses are taken care of.

When speaking to recent graduates, the estimates varied greatly depending on what one considered comfortable.

For most, it meant being able to enjoy day-to-day life without worrying about budgeting. For others, being comfortable included having a certain degree of luxury, such as being able to save for expenses such as holidays and mortgages.

Recruitment consultant Charlotte, 22, said: “I think 28k is enough to live comfortably if you are not too bothered about saving.

“I am comfortable in the sense that I don’t feel restricted on what I can buy day to day.

“However, nothing is lavish or pricey; it is all very standard.

“I can’t have lunch out everyday, so I’m still having to budget in that sense.

“I can’t imagine trying to plan for a mortgage or any big life investment right now.”

Maddy, a 22-year-old sales intern said: “35k a year is my estimate.

“Most people at our age (grads) will be on 30k and will be doing fine.”

Harry, a 23-year-old audit associate, estimated 40k a year. He said: “Any lower than that would mean living pay-check to pay-check, and that isn’t exactly comfortable.”

Hope, a 22-year-old medical writer, and Lauren, a 23-year-old student, both estimated 35-40k.

Lauren said: “Being comfortable would mean that I could go on nights out or out for dinner without having to worry about it.

“Being comfortable to me would mean not having to budget, or worry about what I’m buying.”

Sarah, 22, a masters student, estimated 50k. She said: “Living comfortably would mean not having to worry about things like having the heating on because of energy bills.

“It would mean that worries about cost would not stop me from doing something I want to do, like a dinner with friends.”

Olivia, a 23-year-old parliamentary researcher, said: “I think you’d need to earn at least 100k to live comfortably in London.

“Being comfortable would mean having the ability to live without budgeting for your rent/mortgage, and to be able to pursue hobbies and go on days out without stress or worry.

“Being comfortable to me also means not having to compromise on my living conditions, and being able to live in a safe area.”

Emma is a finance app with a considerable presence on Tiktok, interviewing members of the public on the streets of London about their own salaries. They also ask participants the minimum salary they estimate someone must earn to live comfortably in London.

@emma_finance

Personal finance is not taboo episode 53!! 🤑 We have taken to the streets of London to discuss our favourite topic-Money! 💰 Today we spoke with a doctor working in both the NHS & private sector! 🩺 #streetinterview #salarytransparency #interviewingstrangers #personalfinance #emmafinanceapp

♬ original sound – Emma – Money & Budgeting App

Edoardo Moreni, Co-Founder and CEO of Emma, said: “In terms of what we have seen from the street interviews, £50-70k seems to ideal target salary for a Londoner to be living in the city.”

Explaining the motivation behind Emma, he said: “We are a mobile app that helps consumers gain visibility and transparency across their finances.

“We are bringing our day-to-day jobs out into the streets hoping to make finance easy and accessible to everyone.”

Olivia’s estimate of 100K echoes some of the participants in Emma’s Tiktok videos.

One 20-year-old working in tech said: “100k is a baseline people need to be earning to live in London.”

A 65-year-old doctor earning 600K estimated higher. He said: “I don’t see how you can live in the city on 100k a year.”

The app uses Open Banking to track all transactions across different accounts. It aims to help people track their spending, and invest money.

The app’s TikTok page promotes the message that “personal finance is not taboo”. They use their street interviews to encourage open conversations about finances in London.

Image credits: “London” bybarnyzis licensed underCC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Join the discussion

Leave a Reply

How much money do you need to earn to live comfortably in London? (2024)

FAQs

How much money do you need to earn to live comfortably in London? ›

The cost of living in the city, particularly housing and transportation expenses, tends to be higher compared to other regions in the UK. Taking into account these factors, a salary range of £50,000 to £60,000 per year can be considered a good salary that allows for a comfortable standard of living in London.

What is a good salary to live comfortably in London? ›

While the entirety of the UK has been experiencing a cost of living crisis since late 2021, it is estimated that London is 27% more expensive to live in than the rest of the UK. Recruitment firm Reed found in a survey that Londoners estimated a salary of around £65,000 as the minimum required to live comfortably.

What is a livable wage in London? ›

The UK Real Living Wage rate is £11.95. Due to higher living costs, the London Living Wage rate, which is also voluntary, is higher, at £13.15. There's a significant difference between the real Living Wage rate and the government's national living wage of £10.42 per hour (for workers over the age of 22).

How much do you need to be paid to live in London? ›

In London, according to Statista, the average annual wage for full-time employees in 2022 was £41,866, but in general, to live comfortably in London, without living paycheck to paycheck, you would need a yearly salary of at least £45,000 to pay living expenses and discretionary costs.

Is $1,500 a month enough to live in London? ›

Can I live on £1500 a month in London? Living on £1500 per month in London can be challenging, as it is an expensive city. While it may be possible to cover basic living expenses with this budget, it might require careful budgeting and making certain lifestyle adjustments.

Is 100k salary good for London? ›

Earning a 100k salary in the UK is generally considered a good income that provides the means to cover living costs, housing expenses, and save for the future. It allows for comfortable accommodation options, both for renters and potential homeowners.

Is $50,000 a good salary in London? ›

Earning a 50k salary in the UK can generally be considered a good income for a comfortable lifestyle. It provides the means to cover living costs, including housing, utilities, transportation, and leisure activities. Additionally, it allows for saving towards long-term goals and financial security.

Can you live off $1,000 a month in London? ›

The question of whether you can live in London with £1,000 a month largely depends on various factors, including your accommodation, lifestyle, and financial management. But the short answer, is this: It's gonna be tough. Don't be discouraged, though! If you're determined, you can make it work.

What is the average rent in London? ›

The average monthly rent in London is now £2,121 - £90 higher than a year ago. This increase is higher than the UK average of £80 per month but is much lower than the £290 per month nationwide rise in the second half of 2022.

Is $42,000 a good salary in London? ›

In general , 40 thousand pounds is considered a decent salary in London , but it may not be enough to live a luxurious lifestyle . With the high cost of living in London , it may be challenging to save or invest with this salary .

Is $2000 a month enough in London? ›

If you do not need to pay rent or mortgage then you could easily live in London on £2000 per month. Contrary to what many people say London does not have to be an expensive place to live when housing is taken out of account.

How to survive financially in London? ›

Thrifty in London: how to live it up without breaking the bank
  1. Budgeting and saving your student maintenance loan. ...
  2. Taking advantage of student loans and bursaries. ...
  3. Learning to live frugally. ...
  4. Spending less money on transportation. ...
  5. Meal prepping and eating out.
Mar 28, 2023

How much money should I have saved to move to London? ›

Everyone has their own preferences as to how much money they personally need to live and set up in London. As a rule of thumb, we recommend having around $10,000 when moving to London – that's Aussie/New Zealand dollars, not British pounds. If you can save more than $10,000 even better!

Is 120K a good salary in London? ›

Earning a salary of £120,000 in the UK provides a substantial income that can support a comfortable lifestyle, cover living costs, and facilitate financial security. However, it's crucial to manage your finances wisely, budget effectively, and prioritise saving and investing for the future.

What is the middle class salary in London? ›

What was middle-class income in the UK in 2022? According to tastingbritain.co.uk, the middle-class salary in the UK for 2022 was £26,800 per annum. Of course, the figures swing wildly depending on geographic region. While £35,000 was considered the minimum in the North, £60,000 was the minimum for London.

Is $1,000 a month enough to live in London? ›

The question of whether you can live in London with £1,000 a month largely depends on various factors, including your accommodation, lifestyle, and financial management. But the short answer, is this: It's gonna be tough. Don't be discouraged, though! If you're determined, you can make it work.

Is 70k a good salary in London? ›

70k is a top salary in the UK, putting you in the top 5-10% of earners across the country. With £70,000 you can live comfortable life across the country, even as a single earner. Though, keep in mind, if you live in London (where the average salary is around £40,000) costs might be a little tighter.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Manual Maggio

Last Updated:

Views: 5965

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Manual Maggio

Birthday: 1998-01-20

Address: 359 Kelvin Stream, Lake Eldonview, MT 33517-1242

Phone: +577037762465

Job: Product Hospitality Supervisor

Hobby: Gardening, Web surfing, Video gaming, Amateur radio, Flag Football, Reading, Table tennis

Introduction: My name is Manual Maggio, I am a thankful, tender, adventurous, delightful, fantastic, proud, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.