Top 10 Places to Move From London (By Real Disposable Income)
We crunched the numbers on every major UK city. Here are the 10 where you'd genuinely be better off after tax, rent, and all the boring stuff.
Every year, roughly 300,000 people leave London. Some go reluctantly, priced out by rents that consume half their take-home pay. Others leave deliberately, chasing a calculation most people never actually do: what would I have left each month if I lived somewhere else?
We built Moovely to answer exactly that question. Not just “is rent cheaper?” - because that's only half the story. We compare salaries, tax, rent, council tax, commute costs, energy bills, groceries, and even the price of a pint. The number that comes out is your real disposable income - what you actually keep.
Here are the 10 places where the numbers genuinely add up, ranked by how much better off you'd be per year versus London.
Bristol
+£6,200/yrThriving tech scene, incredible food culture, and you're saving six grand a year. Bristol consistently tops relocation polls for good reason - it feels like London without the London price tag.
See the full London vs Bristol breakdownManchester
+£8,400/yrThe biggest saving on this list. Manchester's median salary isn't far off London's for many sectors, but rent is roughly half. MediaCity, Northern Quarter, world-class music - you're not exactly roughing it.
See the full London vs Manchester breakdownEdinburgh
+£5,800/yrScotland's capital has a slight tax sting (Scottish income tax rates), but massively cheaper housing and a quality of life that's hard to beat. The festival alone is worth the move.
See the full London vs Edinburgh breakdownLeeds
+£9,100/yrQuietly becoming one of the UK's most exciting cities. Financial services hub, brilliant food scene, and you'd pocket over nine grand more per year. The catch? There isn't one.
See the full London vs Leeds breakdownBirmingham
+£7,300/yrThe UK's second city has had a genuine glow-up. HS2 connectivity (eventually), booming creative quarter, and your money goes dramatically further.
See the full London vs Birmingham breakdownCardiff
+£8,900/yrAlmost nine grand better off and you get the Brecon Beacons on your doorstep. Cardiff Bay, the castle, Bute Park - and a pint that doesn't require a second mortgage.
See the full London vs Cardiff breakdownNewcastle
+£9,800/yrThe biggest savings of any major city. Geordie hospitality is real, the coast is gorgeous, and your disposable income would almost double. The accent is a free bonus.
See the full London vs Newcastle breakdownYork
+£5,400/yrSmaller saving but higher quality of life per pound. Medieval charm, zero commuting stress, and the kind of community feel that London just can't offer.
See the full London vs York breakdownNottingham
+£8,600/yrMassively underrated. Two brilliant universities keep it young, creative, and well-connected. Plus, you'll actually be able to afford a house here.
See the full London vs Nottingham breakdownBrighton
+£2,100/yrThe smallest saving on this list - Brighton isn't cheap. But if you want London energy without London prices, the sea air, independent culture, and creative buzz make that £2k feel like a bargain.
See the full London vs Brighton breakdownThe methodology
All figures are based on area median salaries (ONS ASHE data), current rental prices, council tax Band D rates, and local cost-of-living data. We compare a 2-bed rental, standard commute, average energy bills, and typical grocery spending. The annual difference is take-home pay minus all essential costs.
Want to see the numbers with your salary instead of medians? Use the Explore tool and personalise the comparison.
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