Cost of living community answer

Is a $120k New York salary enough for a London move?

A New York-based software engineer comparing a London transfer offer can use this as a first-pass lifestyle checkpoint before checking local rent, tax, and visa costs.

Short answer

Using BorderTally's indicative 2026-06 cost index, $120,000 in New York City maps to about $100,800 for London. That is a -16% destination benchmark before tax, FX, housing choice, or relocation costs.

Calculator-backed facts
Current city New York City, United States
Destination London, United Kingdom
Origin salary $120,000
Index ratio x0.84
Equivalent benchmark $100,800
Cost delta -16%
Open the salary worked example

FAQ

Is this a currency conversion?

No. It scales the salary by a cost-index ratio and keeps the result in the origin salary currency.

What should I verify before relying on it?

The output is pre-tax and currency-neutral, so compare real offers only after checking UK tax and a live FX rate. Central London rent can swing the result; rerun the calculator with rent-weighted mode if housing is the deciding cost.