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United Kingdom vs United States
United States is {pct} {word} than United Kingdom. Compare cost of living, taxes, salaries and visas — and the salary you’d need in United States to match United Kingdom.
United Kingdom vs United States at a glance — United States is 15% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. Average net salary: $4,300/mo vs $2,900/mo. Top income tax: 37% vs 45%.
| United Kingdom | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Cost of living index | 123 | 105 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 45% | 37% |
| VAT / sales tax | 20% | 0% |
| Social security (employee) | 8% | 7.7% |
| Corporate tax | 25% | 21% |
| Capital gains | 24% | 20% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $2,900/mo | $4,300/mo |
| Minimum wage | $2,050/mo | $1,257/mo✓ |
| GDP per capita | $57,602✓ | $90,027✓ |
| Inflation (annual) | 3.9%✓ | — |
| Life expectancy | 81 yr✓ | 79 yr✓ |
| Quality of life | ||
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | High | High |
| Digital-nomad visa | No | No |
✓ = official statistics (US DOL (federal), World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →
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? Frequently asked questions
Is United Kingdom cheaper than United States?
United States is about 15% cheaper than United Kingdom overall — its cost-of-living index is 105 versus 123 for United Kingdom.
How much do you need to earn in United States to live like in United Kingdom?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in United Kingdom is worth about $63,555 in United States. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, United Kingdom or United States?
United States has the lower top income-tax rate — 37% versus 45% in United Kingdom.