u/LiveWhereUK

I've been building a cost of living comparison site (livewhere.co.uk) and used the data to map disposable income across every local authority.

The calculation: take the local median salary, run it through the 2026/27 tax calculator, then subtract one-bed median rent, council tax, energy, water, groceries and transport.

The result surprised me in some places. Several London boroughs actually go negative, meaning the median salary there isn't enough to cover a one-bed flat and basic bills. Meanwhile areas in rural Scotland and northern England leave you with over £1,000/month.

Obviously if you're in a couple sharing costs, or earning above the median, the picture changes.

There is also a cost of living calc if you want to add spouse and more specifics etc - https://livewhere.co.uk/tools/cost-of-living-calculator

As ever, any feedback is encouraged.