Frequently Asked Questions
What salary in London matches £40,000 in Sheffield?
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£63,500 in London provides the same purchasing power as £40,000 in Sheffield.
This is based on Sheffield's COL index of 63 vs London's 100 (London = 100, Numbeo 2025).
The 59% cost difference translates directly to a 59% higher equivalent salary.
Is London significantly cheaper than Sheffield?
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London is 59% more expensive overall than Sheffield.
The most visible difference is rent: Sheffield averages £825/month for a 1-bed flat
vs £2,050/month in London
— a premium of £1,225/month (£14,700/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: £40,000 × (100 ÷ 63) = £63,500.
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 Sheffield to London?
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Moving to London requires a higher salary to maintain your standard of living.
You need approximately £63,500 — £23,500 more than your current £40,000 in Sheffield.
London is 59% more expensive overall and rent averages £2,050/month vs £825.