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HelpMeChoose

UK Financial Decision Tools

The average UK renter spends £504,000 over 25 years.

Would buying have been smarter — or would investing the difference have made you richer?

No sign-ups, no ads — just clear numbers using current 2025/26 tax year thresholds.

Home & Property

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Rent vs Buy

Should you buy a home or rent and invest the difference? Model the long-term wealth outcome with SDLT, mortgage costs, and investment returns.

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Mortgage Calculator

Work out your true monthly mortgage cost including service charge, ground rent, council tax, and insurance. See exactly how much goes to interest vs repaying the loan.

Transport & Commuting

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Car Loan Calculator

Calculate your monthly repayment, total interest, and true cost of ownership for a car loan. Factor in deposit, rate, term, insurance, and road tax.

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Bike vs Public Transport

Compare the true cost of cycling versus a London Travelcard. Factor in bike purchase, maintenance, insurance, and rainy day Ubers.

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Cycle to Work Scheme

Calculate your salary sacrifice savings on a bike or e-bike. See how much Income Tax and NI you save through your employer's Cycle to Work scheme.

Family & Children

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Childcare Costs & £100k Cliff Edge

Calculate your true childcare costs, see what free hours and Tax-Free Childcare you qualify for, and discover how the £100k cliff edge could cost you thousands.

Income & Tax

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Take Home Pay Calculator

Work out your net salary after Income Tax, NI, pension, student loan, and salary sacrifice deductions. Supports Scottish tax rates and the £100k tax trap.

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Pay Rise Calculator

See how much of a pay rise you actually take home. Compare current and new salary after tax, NI, pension, and student loan deductions.

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Income Percentile Calculator

Find out where your salary ranks in the UK income distribution. See your national and city-level percentile based on official ONS data.

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City Salary Comparison

Compare what your salary is really worth in different UK cities. See take-home pay minus rent, transport, groceries and more — side by side.

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London vs New York

Cross-Atlantic salary comparison. UK Income Tax + NI vs US Federal + NY State + NYC + FICA, with editable FX, Single/MFJ filing, and NYC vs NJ commuter residence.

Long-term Savings

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Pension Calculator

Estimate your pension pot at retirement. Factor in employer contributions, investment growth, salary increases, tax-free lump sum, and UK State Pension.

Who is this for?

First-time buyer wondering if you can actually afford it?

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Renter questioning whether investing beats buying?

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Buying a flat and want to know the true monthly cost with service charge?

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London commuter wondering if cycling would save you money?

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Thinking about getting a bike through work and want to know the real savings?

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Want to know exactly how much of your salary you actually take home?

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Got a job offer and want to know how much more you’ll actually get?

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Worried your pension won’t be enough to retire on?

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Earning near £100k and wondering what it means for childcare?

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Considering a job in another city and want to know if you’ll be better off?

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Weighing a job offer in New York and wondering if it really beats your London salary?

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How HelpMeChoose helps

Transparent models

Every assumption is visible and adjustable. We show our working so you can tweak inputs to match your real situation — not a simplified average.

Real UK tax data

Calculations use current HMRC thresholds including SDLT bands, income tax rates, NI contributions, and CGT allowances for the 2025/26 tax year.

No hidden agenda

We don't sell mortgages, investments, or insurance. There are no affiliate links or sponsored results. The tools exist to help you make a better decision — nothing more.

Frequently asked questions

Is this financial advice?

No. HelpMeChoose provides educational tools to help you explore different scenarios. It is not regulated financial advice. You should consult a qualified financial adviser before making major financial decisions.

How often are the figures updated?

Tax thresholds and rates are updated at the start of each UK tax year (April). Mortgage rate benchmarks are reviewed monthly to reflect current market conditions.

What data sources do you use?

HMRC published tax bands and rates, Bank of England base rate data, ONS house price indices, and publicly available mortgage product data. All sources are cited within each tool.

Can I save or share my results?

Yes — each calculator generates a shareable URL that encodes your inputs, so you can bookmark your scenario or send it to someone else without creating an account.