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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
London quality of life score: 56/100 (United Kingdom avg: 60/100). Combines safety (58), healthcare (82), walkability (89), air quality (AQI 42) and green space (33%). Compared to London peers in 2026.
London quality of life score: 56/100 (United Kingdom avg: 60/100). Combines safety (58), healthcare (82), walkability (89), air quality (AQI 42) and green space (33%). Compared to London peers in 2026.
London: cost index 142 (+39 vs national avg 103), rent £2,000/month.
London region average cost index: 103. London is +39 vs region peers.
Quality of life: 56/100 — safety 58, healthcare 82, walkability 89.
Safety score: 58/100 (crime rate 95.1/1k). National average: 61/100.
Here's what the headline numbers don't tell you: London has a cost index of 142 — 39 points above the United Kingdom national average of 103. Median income is £42,500 with rent at £2,000/month, putting the rent-to-income ratio at 56%. This combination is rare — and valuable.
Context matters here. looking at London as a whole, the spread across all 27 cities is 39 points on the cost index. Manchester sits at the other end with index 103 and rent of £1,080/mo. Financially, that's significant.
On quality of life, London scores a composite score of 56/100 — reflecting its safety (58), healthcare (82), and walkability (89) metrics. Context matters here. affordability and QoL don't always move in the same direction, and United Kingdom is a good example of that tension.
| # | City | Cost Index | Rent/mo | Income | QoL | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 142 | £2,000 | £42,500 | 56 | 58 |
| 2 | Swansea | 87 | £720 | £29,500 | 66 | 62 |
| 3 | Sheffield | 91 | £830 | £30,000 | 65 | 60 |
| 4 | Edinburgh | 110 | £1,220 | £37,000 | 65 | 72 |
| 5 | Aberdeen | 98 | £810 | £35,800 | 65 | 70 |
| 6 | Exeter | 106 | £1,020 | £32,600 | 64 | 72 |
| 7 | York | 107 | £1,080 | £34,700 | 64 | 76 |
| 8 | Plymouth | 97 | £870 | £31,000 | 63 | 65 |
| 9 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 89 | £800 | £30,500 | 63 | 56 |
| 10 | Norwich | 99 | £920 | £32,000 | 62 | 68 |
| 11 | Cardiff | 96 | £940 | £32,600 | 62 | 62 |
| 12 | Belfast | 89 | £780 | £30,500 | 62 | 60 |
| 13 | Bristol | 112 | £1,200 | £35,800 | 61 | 63 |
| 14 | Cambridge | 129 | £1,450 | £41,000 | 61 | 74 |
| 15 | Glasgow | 95 | £960 | £32,600 | 60 | 52 |
| 16 | Nottingham | 94 | £880 | £31,000 | 59 | 54 |
| 17 | Leeds | 96 | £950 | £31,600 | 59 | 58 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 83 | £660 | £28,400 | 59 | 54 |
| 19 | Oxford | 132 | £1,500 | £39,000 | 58 | 70 |
| 20 | Brighton | 122 | £1,350 | £37,000 | 57 | 62 |
London — cost index 142, rent £2,000/mo, income £42,500, QoL 56/100.
Swansea — cost index 87, rent £720/mo, income £29,500, QoL 66/100.
Sheffield — cost index 91, rent £830/mo, income £30,000, QoL 65/100.
Edinburgh — cost index 110, rent £1,220/mo, income £37,000, QoL 65/100.
Aberdeen — cost index 98, rent £810/mo, income £35,800, QoL 65/100.
London has a composite quality of life score of 56/100, covering safety (58), healthcare (82), walkability (89), air quality, and green space. United Kingdom average QoL: 60/100.
The London region of average QoL score is 60/100. London leads with 56/100, reflecting safety, healthcare access, walkability, and green space.
Our index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Sub-categories cover housing, food, transport, utilities, and healthcare. Data sources include ONS, Land Registry, HMRC.
London: cost index 142, rent £2,000/mo, income £42,500/yr, QoL 56/100. Swansea: cost index 87, rent £720/mo, income £29,500/yr, QoL 66/100.
This analysis uses data from ONS, Land Registry, HMRC to rank cities in United Kingdom. The cost of living index is benchmarked to 100 (national median). Quality of life scores combine safety, healthcare, walkability, air quality, green space, and transit metrics. Salary ranges use national occupation data adjusted for local cost differences. Data is updated regularly to reflect current market conditions.