Switchgear is a free calculator that shows your exact take-home pay for any UK city — using verified HMRC 2025/26 tax rates and real ONS cost-of-living data for 29 cities.
"Most salary calculators show you the gross number. We built Switchgear to show you what you actually keep — and whether you can afford to live where you're considering."
The problem we solve
Before
"My salary is £50,000. I'm considering moving to Manchester. I have a student loan (Plan 2) and contribute 5% to my pension. I've no idea what I'll actually take home, or whether I can afford a 1-bed flat there."
After
Monthly take-home: £2,731. Monthly costs in Manchester: £2,051. Monthly surplus: £680. London surplus: −£290. Decision made.
How it works
Enter your salary and employment type
Gross annual salary. PAYE (employed) or Freelance (self-employed). We handle both income tax regimes.
Choose your city
Pick from 29 UK cities across 12 regions. Or add a second city to compare side-by-side.
Add your deductions
Student loan plan (Plans 1, 2, 4, 5, Postgrad), pension contribution, household type. All optional.
See your real monthly surplus
Monthly take-home, full tax breakdown, cost of living, and what's left after all expenses.
Our data sources
| Data | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax bands & rates | HMRC | 2025/26 |
| Scotland income tax (SRIT) | Scottish Parliament | 2025/26 |
| National Insurance rates | HMRC | 2025/26 |
| Student loan thresholds | Student Loans Company | 2025/26 |
| Cost of living indices | ONS + Numbeo | 2024/Q1 2025 |
| Regional house prices | ONS House Price Index | Q4 2024 |
| Council tax (Band D) | Local authorities | 2025/26 |
Data is updated at the start of each tax year. This is a planning tool — not tax advice.
Verified calculations
All tax calculations are cross-checked against HMRC published figures:
| Salary | Annual Tax + NI | Monthly Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | £3,986/yr | £1,751/mo |
| £35,000 | £6,646/yr | £2,363/mo |
| £50,000 | £11,714/yr | £3,190/mo |
| £80,000 | £23,034/yr | £4,747/mo |
| £100,000 | £31,032/yr | £5,748/mo |
PAYE, England/Wales, 2025/26, standard Personal Allowance, no student loan, no pension contribution.
Try the calculator
See what your salary looks like in any UK city. Free, no sign-up.