See the Budget tracker for announcements and effective dates.
How does take-home pay compare with the UK?
Annual GBP at the same gross salary, using the UK and destination engines. Single employee, no children or voluntary pension contributions. A converted salary is not a local job offer.
| Gross salary | UK take-home | United Kingdom take-home | Difference before rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| £50,000.00 | £39,519.60 | £39,519.60 | £0.00 |
| £75,000.00 | £54,057.40 | £54,057.40 | £0.00 |
| £100,000.00 | £68,557.40 | £68,557.40 | £0.00 |
| £150,000.00 | £91,286.40 | £91,286.40 | £0.00 |
How is employee pay taxed?
The UK baseline deducts Income Tax for England, Wales and Northern Ireland plus employee National Insurance. Personal allowance withdrawal raises the marginal rate at higher incomes. Scotland uses a separate employment tax schedule.
Tax period: 2026-27. Main city used: London.
What permission do I need to live and work here?
British citizens have the right to live and work in the UK.
How much rent does the comparison assume?
Rent estimate in London: £2,156.71/month for a city-centre one-bedroom home; Numbeo: London city-centre one-bedroom rent, checked 25 October 2026; method and exclusions.
Getting residence
British citizens have the right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. This baseline page covers departure planning; a non-British partner or child may need separate permission to enter or return.
Home Office, right of abode. Source undated. Checked .
Healthcare
NHS hospital treatment in England is mainly based on ordinary residence, rather than citizenship or past National Insurance payments. A British citizen returning to live in England can access care on that basis. Check the separate rules before relying on NHS cover during visits after departure.
NHS, moving to England from outside the EEA. Source date: . Checked .
Schools
For a return to England, check the child’s right to enter and study, then apply through the local authority or school. State schools cannot make offering a place depend on seeing proof of immigration eligibility. Other UK nations have their own admission systems.
Department for Education, school applications from overseas. Source date: . Checked .
Banking and money
Declare cash of GBP 10,000 or more when taking it between Great Britain and a country outside the UK. Family and group totals count together. Northern Ireland has separate rules, including for travel to or from the EU.
HMRC, taking cash in and out of the UK. Source undated. Checked .
Check a bank’s eligibility rules before opening a UK account or keeping it after departure. Ask which identity and address documents it accepts and whether the account supports your planned overseas address.
Money and Pensions Service, choosing a bank account. Source undated. Checked .
The currency is the pound sterling (GBP).
European Central Bank, currency reference table. Source date: . Checked .
Cost of living
UK consumer prices rose 3.5% in the year to September 2026. Use this as a dated price-change indicator when reviewing your departure budget; it does not forecast costs in the destination.
Office for National Statistics, September 2026 consumer price inflation. Source date: . Checked .
Driving
Before leaving, check your destination’s exchange requirements and get any driving-record evidence it needs. You cannot renew or replace a UK driving licence while resident abroad; contact the licensing authority in the country where you live.
DVLA, driving abroad. Source undated. Checked .
UK pensions
Check State Pension increases for your destination before leaving.Frozen State Pension guide.
DWP, State Pension annual increases country list. Source date: . Checked .
See the Moving abroad checklist for UK reporting and residence checks, school questions and bank account checks.