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The UK Salary Test · 2026/27
How far does your salary actually go?
Pick a salary, pick a city. See take-home pay, essentials, and disposable income across 10 UK cities — based on ONS, Ofgem and HMRC data.
HMRC 2026/27 rates. Scottish bands applied to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Costs are illustrative single-person averages.
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Gross Salary
£45,000
£45,000 in London is Manageable
Essentials take 57% of take-home; £1,288/mo disposable.
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How this calculator works
This calculator uses published UK government data to model what any salary between £15,000 and £200,000 delivers in the ten largest UK cities. Tax calculations follow HMRC 2026/27 rates: Personal Allowance £12,570, basic rate 20%, higher rate 40% above £50,270, additional rate 45% above £125,140, with the Personal Allowance taper creating the 60% effective rate between £100,000 and £125,140. National Insurance follows Class 1 employee rates: 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, then 2% above.
Scottish income tax bands are applied automatically for Edinburgh and Glasgow, using the 2026/27 Scottish Parliament rates. City rent figures are from the ONS Private Rent and House Prices bulletin (April 2026), representing median one-bedroom private rents. Utility costs are derived from Ofgem’s quarterly household energy bill averages. Food costs are based on ONS household expenditure survey data. Public transport costs use published monthly pass prices from each city’s transport authority.
Figures are updated each April when HMRC publishes confirmed tax year rates. The calculator models a single employed person with no pension contributions, no student loan, and standard tax code 1257L. Results are indicative — your actual take-home will vary based on pension deductions, student loan repayment, benefits-in-kind, and individual tax coding.
UK Salary Benchmarks 2026
The UK median full-time salary is £37,430 (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025). The median masks significant regional and sectoral variation: London full-time median sits at £44,370 while the North East median is £32,140. Use the calculator to compare what the same salary delivers across cities — the difference between London and Sheffield on a £45,000 salary is over £900/month in disposable income.
Important notice
This calculator is for illustrative and planning purposes only. It does not constitute financial or tax advice. Tax liabilities depend on your full personal circumstances. Always verify your position with HMRC or a qualified tax adviser. Kaeltripton.com is not FCA-regulated and accepts no liability for decisions made in reliance on these figures.
