Is £30,000 a Good Salary in the UK in 2025?

Introduction

Is £30,000 a good salary in the UK in 2025? You're not alone in wondering about that. Over just a few years, a lot has transformed in terms of salaries and living costs across the UK, with great repercussions on the levels of financial comfort. Whether you're an independent artist or running your side gig, or have a pay slip to fill out every month, understanding what your salary means in practical terms is crucial for better money management.

Here we'll discuss cost of living, tax realities, and budgeting tips to help you assess whether you can comfortably live on £30,000 in 2025.

Understanding Average UK Salaries in 2025

Before taking a position on whether £30,000 exceeds expectations, let's check the average salaries out there:

• Median UK salary (2025): approx. £33,000
• Wide variance according to region, with London having averages higher than £41,000 and the North East lower than £29,000.

Although £30,000 falls slightly short of the median salaries for the whole of the UK, it more or less stands as a comfortable average in most parts of the country that aren't London.

How Far Does £30,000 Actually Go? Cost of Living Factors

Housing Costs

Housing is usually the biggest monthly expense an individual faces. And here's what £30,000 can fetch:

• Average rent price for a one-bedroom flat in the UK (outside London): £750-£900 per month
• Mortgage repayments on a £150,000 home (average UK price outside of London): about £800 a month with today's rates
• In Birmingham, the average rent for a one-bedroom flat is around £800 a month (ONS Rental Price Index)

London-wise, however, you surely are going to rent or get a little stressed with this salary unless you find ways to budget on top of it or opt for some form of shared accommodation.

Essential Expenses

Outside of the house, monthly bills can account for:

• Council tax: about £120-£160 per month
• Utilities (gas, electricity, water, etc.): £150-£200 per month
• Food and groceries: about £250-£300 per month, per person
• Transport (whether public or a car): roughly £150 per month

Lifestyle and Entertainment

Some discretionary allocation can cover casual dining out (£30-£50 per occasion), subscription services (£10-£20 a month), and one holiday (£1,000 a year).

Tax Underneath a £30,000 Salary

Getting to know how taxable earnings influence your real money after tax:

• The personal allowance (or tax-free amount) is about £12,570 for the assessment year 2025/26 (subject to change by the government)
• The basic rate (20%) will be charged on any income between £12,571 and £50,270
• And of course, your National Insurance contributions will also clip away a part of your paycheck

This leaves you with something close to £2,000 in take-home pay each month.

For a more tailored calculation, use our salary calculator.

Efficient Budgeting Tips for £30,000 Income

Use the following budgeting tips to make the most of a £30,000 salary:

1. Pay for essentials first: Spend money on accommodation, bills, and food.
2. Set budget limits: Budget for leisure and personal spending each month.
3. Emergency fund: Try saving around three months' worth of expenses (£4,500-£6,000) for an emergency.
4. Pay off debts: Try to pay off high-interest debt as fast as possible.

Is £30,000 Enough for Saving and Investing?

Savings and investment are achievable even with disciplined budgeting:

• Making small monthly contributions toward personal pensions or ISAs (£100-£200)
• Consider LISA if saving for purchase of first home or for retirement (Government provides an incentive of £1,000 per annum)

Discover all the current investment options at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Real-Life Situation: Working with £30,000 in Birmingham

Here's a case study with Emma, who earns £30,000 in Birmingham:

• Monthly net salary: £2,000
• Rent (1-bed flat): £800
• Bills and council tax: £300
• Groceries: £250
• Transport: £100
• Leisure & savings: £550

Therefore, Emma lives comfortably within her means and saves a little each month.

How Does £30,000 Compare With Other Salaries?

• It is less than the average for graduate-level salaries: £32,000 - £35,000
• Competitive in fields such as administrative and retail management and education on the outside of London

Conclusion

The £30,000 salary would still amount to somewhat of a noble existence in the UK in 2025, especially away from high-cost areas such as London. If able to budget well and spend wisely, one can live very comfortably by this salary, save some essential money, and also invest some small amount.

Still feeling lost? Tune in to our handy salary calculator to get a pinpointed insight into managing your finances.