Question 1

Is it cheaper to live in London or New York?

Accepted Answer

New York is generally more expensive than London once you factor in rent (Manhattan/Brooklyn medians sit well above Zone 1–2 London), groceries, eating out, and most importantly health insurance and US-side taxes. London has higher headline income tax for high earners, but the NHS, lower rent, and the lack of a city-level income tax narrow the gap considerably. Use the calculator to compare with your actual salary on each side.

Question 2

What US salary equals a £75,000 London salary?

Accepted Answer

It depends on filing status, 401(k) contribution, and how you weight rent vs disposable income. A rough rule of thumb at current FX (~$1.27/£): a £75k London salary tends to need $130k–$160k in NYC for similar disposable income for a single filer renting a 1-bed, because NYC rent and the Federal+State+City+FICA stack take a larger bite. The calculator shows the exact gap for your numbers.

Question 3

How does the US tax calculation work?

Accepted Answer

For NYC residents we calculate Federal income tax (2025 brackets), New York State tax, NYC resident tax, and FICA (Social Security 6.2% up to the $176,100 wage base, Medicare 1.45%, plus the 0.9% Additional Medicare surtax above $200k single / $250k joint). 401(k) and pre-tax health premiums reduce the taxable base. We use the standard deduction.

Question 4

Why do you assume $300/month for healthcare?

Accepted Answer

That's a typical employee contribution to an employer-sponsored health plan in NYC for a single, salaried professional — the employer covers the majority. Your actual premium can be $0 (some employers cover fully) up to $600+/mo. Adjust assumptions to match your offer letter.

Question 5

Is this comparison fair given the NHS in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the comparison treats the NHS as a £0 line item and treats US health insurance as a real out-of-pocket cost, which is what most workers actually experience. It does not attempt to monetise differences in quality, wait times, or coverage scope, which are personal judgements.

Question 6

How current is the FX rate?

Accepted Answer

The calculator uses a snapshot FX rate shown next to the currency toggle. Native-currency calculations (UK take-home, US take-home, rent, costs) never use FX — only the side-by-side common-currency comparison view does. So if FX moves, the per-side numbers stay correct.

London vs New York

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