Washington vs London
Salary equivalence calculator
Price-level ratio 0.980. Adjust to recalculate.
| Metric | Washington | London | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price level index (NYC=100) | 84.0 | 82.3 | -2.0% |
| Rent index (NYC=100) | 74.0 | 74.6 | +0.8% |
| Equivalent of $120,000 | $120,000 | $117,571 | cheaper |
- London is about 2% cheaper than Washington, so the same lifestyle costs less.
How far does your salary go in London?
Moving from Washington to London changes your cost of living in ways a currency conversion can't capture. What matters is purchasing power: how much the same basket of housing, food, transport and services costs in each place. On our index, where New York City = 100, Washington sits at 84.0 and London at 82.3.
That makes London roughly 2% cheaper. A salary of $120,000 in Washington translates to about $117,571 in London. Above that and you gain in real terms; below it and you take an effective pay cut.
Housing drives the gap
Rent is the largest and most variable line in most budgets. London's rent index is 74.6 versus Washington's 74.0.
Common mistakes
- Converting currency instead of purchasing power.
- Ignoring taxes, which vary by jurisdiction.
- Forgetting one-off relocation costs.
Bottom line
London is about 2% cheaper than Washington, so the same lifestyle costs less. Use the calculator to plug in your real salary and compare against any concrete offer.
Rent equivalence: Washington vs London
Based on the rent-index ratio of 1.008 (Washington 74.0 vs London 74.6, NYC = 100).
Housing is usually the biggest single difference between two cities, and it moves independently of the overall price level. Renting the equivalent home in London costs about 1% more than in Washington. Enter your actual rent above to see what a like-for-like place would cost after you move — a more honest gauge of affordability than a raw salary conversion, since renters and owners feel very different impacts.
Frequently asked questions
What salary do I need in London to match Washington?
To keep the same standard of living as $120,000 in Washington, you would need roughly $117,571 in London, a price-level ratio of 0.98.
Is London more expensive than Washington?
No, it is about 2% cheaper overall.
How much is rent in London compared to Washington?
Rent in London is about 1% higher than in Washington (rent indices 74.0 vs 74.6, NYC = 100). Use the rent calculator on this page for your exact figure.
How is the equivalent salary calculated?
We multiply your salary by the ratio of the two cities' composite price-level indices (housing, food, transport, services), benchmarked so New York City = 100.
Methodology
We build a composite price-level index for each city from official regional price parities and international purchasing-power parities across housing, food, transport and services, normalized so New York City = 100. The equivalent salary is your salary multiplied by the ratio of the destination index to the origin index. It estimates the income needed to hold real purchasing power constant and does not model taxes.