London pays more than the North of England: the median full-time salary for jobs in London is £53,132, against £38,599 in the North West, £37,519 in Yorkshire and the Humber and £36,460 in the North East (ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, April 2026, provisional, by place of work). Housing costs far more in London too, which takes back much of the difference.
Read more: See our Salary By Profession guide for pay by job, and average salary by region and city for every region.
Headline Salary Comparison
Full-time median gross annual pay by region of the workplace, April 2026 (ONS ASHE, provisional):
| Region | Median salary (full-time) | vs London |
|---|---|---|
| London | £53,132 | (base) |
| South East | £41,664 | -22% |
| South West | £39,078 | -26% |
| East Midlands | £36,975 | -30% |
| West Midlands | £38,628 | -27% |
| North West | £38,599 | -27% |
| Yorkshire and Humber | £37,519 | -29% |
| North East | £36,460 | -31% |
| Wales | £37,330 | -30% |
| Scotland | £41,466 | -22% |
| Northern Ireland | £38,203 | -28% |
The UK-wide full-time median (all regions combined) is £40,911 (ONS ASHE, April 2026, provisional). The regional figures above straddle this national figure, with London well above and most other regions below.
How Big Is the Gap?
London’s median full-time salary is 38% higher than the North West’s, 42% higher than Yorkshire and the Humber’s and 46% higher than the North East’s. Measured the other way, as in the table above, the northern figures are a smaller percentage below London’s.
In April 2025 (as revised by ONS in October 2026) the London median was £50,042 and the North East’s £34,438, so London’s was 45% higher. In April 2026 (provisional) it was 46% higher, so over the year the gap widened.
Housing Costs: Where the Gap Narrows
Average house prices from the UK House Price Index against median full-time pay for jobs in the same region:
| Region | Average house price | Median full-time salary | House price to salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £554,430 | £53,132 | 10.4× |
| North West | £220,393 | £38,599 | 5.7× |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £209,266 | £37,519 | 5.6× |
| North East | £165,640 | £36,460 | 4.5× |
House prices: UK House Price Index, August 2026 (ONS and HM Land Registry). Salaries: ONS ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 7.7a, by place of work. The ratio is the average house price divided by the median salary.
An average London home costs about 2.3 times as many years of median pay as an average North East home. With a 10% deposit, the mortgage on an average home would be 9.4 times the median salary in London and 4.1 times in the North East. How much you can borrow depends on the lender’s income multiple and affordability checks: see the mortgage affordability calculator. For rents, see salary needed to live in London.
Northern Cities vs London
Median full-time pay for jobs in each city (the local authority area), April 2026:
| City | Median full-time salary | vs London (£53,132) |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | £42,553 | −20% |
| Leeds | £40,095 | −25% |
| Sheffield | £39,050 | −27% |
| Liverpool | £38,838 | −27% |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £38,726 | −27% |
Source: ONS ASHE 2026 provisional, Table 7.7a, by place of work.
Of these five, Manchester has the highest median and Newcastle the lowest. Even Manchester’s is 20% below London’s.
When London Makes Sense
- Your field pays much more in London, or the senior roles you want are mainly there
- You’re early in your career and want the widest choice of employers
- You’re happy to rent rather than buy for the foreseeable future
When the North Makes Sense
- Your field pays similarly across the country (many public sector roles use national pay scales, with London weighting on top)
- You want to buy a home in the near future
- You have children, so housing space and childcare costs weigh heavily
- You can work remotely for an employer that doesn’t cut pay for living elsewhere