How big is the north-south pay gap in the UK? We compare salaries, living costs, and disposable income across the divide — and ask whether the gap is as wide as it seems.
The north-south pay divide is one of the most persistent structural features of the UK economy. But how big is it really — and does it disappear once you account for lower living costs in the north?
| Region | Median gross annual salary | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|
| London | £44,370 | +25% |
| South East | £37,850 | +7% |
| East of England | £36,400 | +3% |
| South West | £33,200 | -6% |
| East Midlands | £32,800 | -7% |
| West Midlands | £33,100 | -7% |
| Yorkshire & Humber | £32,500 | -8% |
| North West | £33,000 | -7% |
| North East | £30,800 | -13% |
| Wales | £31,200 | -12% |
| Scotland | £34,000 | -4% |
| Northern Ireland | £30,500 | -14% |
| UK median | £35,404 | – |
London's median salary is around £44,370 — roughly 44% higher than the North East's £30,800. That's the headline figure. But it obscures how much of that premium is consumed by higher costs.
When you adjust for housing, transport, and everyday living costs, the disposable income gap between London and the North narrows dramatically — and for some income brackets, reverses entirely. A nurse earning £34,000 in Newcastle typically has more disposable income each month than the same nurse earning £40,000 in London.
The picture varies significantly within the north. Manchester and Leeds have seen strong salary growth, driven by expanding financial, tech, and professional service sectors. Average salaries in these cities have risen faster than the national median over the past five years.
Remote working has changed the north-south dynamic meaningfully. People working for London employers from northern cities now earn London salaries with northern living costs — a genuinely advantageous position. This trend accelerated post-2020 and shows no sign of reversing fully.
Our salary checker benchmarks your pay against the regional and national median.
Check Your Salary →London's median salary is around £44,370 vs approximately £31,000–£33,000 in northern regions — a gap of 35–44%. After accounting for living costs, the disposable income gap is much smaller, around 10–15%.
It depends on your career stage and sector. For early-career professionals in finance, law, or certain tech roles, London offers opportunities that justify the cost. For most other roles, northern cities offer comparable career prospects with better disposable income.
Manchester typically has the highest median salary in the north at around £33,000, followed closely by Leeds at £32,500.