GeraJobs / Relocation Calculator
Is It Worth Relocating for a Higher Salary?
Compare real disposable income after tax, NI and council tax across UK regions — plus the house-price gap — to see whether a move actually pays.
Is it worth relocating for a higher salary in the UK? How do I work out the real gain?
Relocating is only worth it if the EXTRA take-home pay beats the EXTRA cost of living. Gera computes both sides from real data: the take-home gain via HMRC 2026/27 tax and NI rates, and the cost change via the destination region’s real Band D council tax and average house price. Source: HMRC + MHCLG + Land Registry (OGL v3.0).
Gera Real Job Value
Disposable income after tax, NI and council tax — the true value of a salary in a region. Compare two regions to judge a relocation. Real HMRC + MHCLG data.
How this is calculatedIs it worth relocating? — Real disposable-income comparison
Compare your real disposable income after Income Tax, National Insurance and council tax in two regions, plus the house-price gap. Real HMRC 2026/27 rates and MHCLG / Land Registry data.
Current
Destination
In North East you keep £29,794 disposable; in North West you keep £33,437 — a gain of £3,643 a year (after tax, NI and council tax).
House prices: £213,624 in North West vs £163,313 in North East — £50,311 higher. Factor housing into your decision.
Uses rest-of-UK Income Tax bands and England-only council-tax data. A model on real HMRC / MHCLG / Land Registry figures — not personal advice.
Popular relocation routes
- North East → London (on £40,000)
- London → North East (on £40,000)
- North West → London (on £40,000)
- London → North West (on £40,000)
- Yorkshire and The Humber → London (on £40,000)
- London → Yorkshire and The Humber (on £40,000)
- East Midlands → London (on £40,000)
- London → East Midlands (on £40,000)
- West Midlands → London (on £40,000)
- London → West Midlands (on £40,000)
- East → London (on £40,000)
- London → East (on £40,000)
- South East → London (on £40,000)
- London → South East (on £40,000)
- South West → London (on £40,000)
- London → South West (on £40,000)
Relocating for a job — FAQ
- How do I work out if relocating for a higher salary is worth it?
- Compare disposable income, not headline salary. Gera takes the take-home pay after Income Tax and employee National Insurance (the same in every English region), subtracts the destination region’s real Band D council tax, and shows the house-price gap. If the disposable gain beats the cost increase, the move pays. Source: HMRC + MHCLG + Land Registry (OGL v3.0).
- Does moving regions change my Income Tax?
- Not within the rest of UK — Income Tax and National Insurance are identical in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so the take-home on a given salary is the same. What changes is the cost of living: council tax and housing. (Scotland has different Income Tax rates.)
- What costs should I weigh when relocating?
- Council tax (real Band D figure per region, MHCLG 2026-27) and housing (average house price per region, HM Land Registry, April 2026) are the two largest fixed differences. Add commuting, childcare and local price differences for a full picture.
Relocating? Get the latest cost-of-living figures
Council tax and house-price data refresh through the year. Save your email and we'll send the updated regional comparison.
Sources: HMRC — Income Tax + Class 1 employee NI 2026 to 2027; MHCLG — Council Tax levels 2026 to 2027 (Band D area); HM Land Registry — UK House Price Index (April 2026). All Open Government Licence v3.0. England GOR regions only. A guide, not personal financial advice.