Frequently Asked Questions
What salary in Newcastle matches £30,000 in London?
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£18,300 in Newcastle provides the same purchasing power as £30,000 in London.
This is based on London's COL index of 100 vs Newcastle's 61 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025).
The 39% cost difference translates directly to a 39% lower equivalent salary.
Is Newcastle significantly cheaper than London?
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Newcastle is 39% cheaper overall than London.
The most visible difference is rent: London averages £2,050/month for a 1-bed flat
vs £750/month in Newcastle
— a saving of £1,300/month (£15,600/year).
How is the salary equivalence calculated?
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SalaryDex uses city-level cost-of-living indices from Numbeo 2025, normalised so London = 100.
The formula is: equivalent = salary × (cityB COL ÷ cityA COL).
For this page: £30,000 × (61 ÷ 100) = £18,300.
The index captures overall cost differences including rent, food, transport, utilities and services.
It does not account for individual tax positions or lifestyle choices.
Should I accept a lower salary to move from London to Newcastle?
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Financially, yes — up to 39% less. Any offer above £18,300 in Newcastle
is a real-terms pay rise compared to your London salary of £30,000.
You'd also save £1,300/month on rent alone, giving you
more disposable income despite a lower nominal salary.