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London
#62 of 124
Europe

London

United Kingdom

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in London compare to Phnom Penh?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in London is 103% better off vs in Phnom Penh

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in London compared to Phnom Penh, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$126,840
+$110K (+655%) vs Phnom Penh
Based on 3843 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$86,251
+$72K (+487%) vs Phnom Penh
Tax Rate: 32%

Community Insights

New

London offers a world-class lifestyle at a high financial cost. For software engineers, it acts as a premier career accelerator in Europe, offering access to top-tier companies and a vibrant startup scene specifically in Fintech. However, the financial trade-off is stark: you will likely earn significantly less and save less than your peers in the US or Switzerland. The city is perfect for those who prioritize experiences, culture, and travel over maximizing a bank balance. The housing market is a major friction point, often requiring compromises on space and quality.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment is a mix of love for the city and frustration with the economy. Transplants often rave about the social life and "energy" of London but frequently complain about the "rental rat race" and the feeling of being "poor" despite a high-status job. Many treat it as a 5-10 year chapter to build a career and travel before moving to a lower-cost area or back home to settle down.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Phnom Penh.

Rankings

Community Events

Top 2%

#3

of 124 cities

18 events on luma

Current value

Net Income

Top 23%

#29

of 124 cities

$86,251/yr

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#44

of 124 cities

50/100 weather score

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in London compared to Phnom Penh?

Avg. Property Price
$14,350 / m²
561% more expensive than Phnom Penh
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in London to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
190% more expensive than Phnom Penh
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in London

Citadel logo
Citadel
Facebook logo
Facebook
The Trade Desk logo
The Trade Desk
Global Tech Hub: One of the few true global cities for tech outside the US, with a massive ecosystem of fintech, AI startups, and FAANG offices offering strong career progression.
  • Travel Connectivity: Unbeatable access to Europe; residents love being able to take a 2-hour train or cheap flight to Paris, Barcelona, or Amsterdam for the weekend.
  • Public Transport: A world-class (though expensive) transport network (Tube, Overground, buses) means living car-free is not just possible but preferred.
  • Cultural vibrancy: Endless free museums, gigs, diverse food scenes, and history make for a lifestyle that many find superior to sterile US tech suburbs.
  • Networking: An extremely active tech community with frequent meetups and social events, making it easier to build a professional network compared to remote-first or smaller cities.

    • The Bad

    • Salary vs. Cost of Living: The biggest complaint; salaries are often 50% lower than US equivalents, while rent and daily costs rival New York or San Francisco.
    • Housing Crisis: The rental market is frequently described as a nightmare—bidding wars for flats, high prices for small spaces, and common issues like mould and damp.
    • Disposable Income: After tax and rent, the savings rate for engineers is significantly lower than in the US or Switzerland, making it harder to build wealth quickly.
    • Weather: The "London Grey" is real; the lack of sunshine and frequent drizzle (92+ rainy days) can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for those used to sunnier climates.
    • Safety: Rising concerns over petty crime, specifically phone snatching and bike theft, which some residents feel has worsened recently.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Culture seekers and early-to-mid career engineers who want to accelerate their growth in a global hub. It is ideal for those who value walkability, public transport, and easy access to Europe over having a large house or a car. If you are from a region with a weaker tech scene, London is a massive upgrade in opportunity.

    Skip it if...

    Savings maximizers and homebodies. If your primary goal is FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) or buying a large detached house quickly, you will likely be frustrated by the high taxes and cost of living. Engineers accustomed to US salaries often find the pay cut hard to swallow. Those prone to depression from lack of sunlight should also seriously reconsider.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather5.0/10+233% vs Phnom Penh
    Safety44-10%
    Pollution58-25%
    Events18+18
    5.0/10TechCities weather score vs 1.5/10 in Phnom Penh

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    15°C(vs 32°C in Phnom Penh)
    Average Low
    9°C(vs 25°C in Phnom Penh)
    Sunshine Hours
    1,633h/yr-537h/yr(-25%)
    Hottest Month High
    23°C(vs 35°C in Phnom Penh)
    Coldest Month Low
    4°C(vs 23°C in Phnom Penh)
    Rainy Days
    93/yr-39/yr(-29%)

    Community & Quality

    London community pulse

    London has 18 Luma events listed.

    Phnom Penh has no listed Luma events for comparison.

    Purchasing Power

    Middle of the pack

    #62

    of 124 cities

    Tax Rate

    Middle of the pack

    #66

    of 124 cities

    32%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Pollution Score

    Bottom 34%

    #83

    of 124 cities

    58.1/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Home Affordability

    Bottom 25%

    #94

    of 124 cities

    ≈13.3 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Bottom 24%

    #96

    of 124 cities

    44.4/100

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 8%

    #115

    of 124 cities

    79/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    SWE Affordability
    13.3 years
    1.5 years longer than Phnom Penh
    Muggy Days
    0/yr-336/yr(-100%)
    Cloud Cover
    58%(vs 75% in Phnom Penh)