New York vs London: cost of living & salary context
Two finance and media capitals with similar sticker prices — small COL differences still shift monthly equivalents.
Cost-of-living indices (excluding rent)
| City | Numbeo index | Typical gross salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 100 | 6,200 $/mo (approx.) |
| London | 87.5 | 3,200 £/mo (approx.) |
London has the lower cost-of-living index on Numbeo (excluding rent), so the same monthly pay typically stretches further there. Indices use New York ≈ 100 as reference in our dataset.
Purchasing power factors
Using the same formula as the app (home index ÷ destination index):
- Salary based in New York → spending power in London: 1.14×
- Salary based in London → spending power in New York: 0.88×
Values above 1 mean money stretches further in the destination. Enter your own monthly pay in the calculator for equivalents in your currency and vs local averages.