London vs New York: tax, residence and cost 2026

London vs New York.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom against 🇺🇸 United States, on tax, residence, cost, and the life. Same model, same year, no brochure.

In short, current to September 2026

On $1,000,000 of income, London takes an effective 43% and New York takes 43%, so London leaves about $755 more in hand each year on the Patrician.ch 2026 model.
On a capital gain realized after residence begins, London charges 24% and New York charges 38%. On a $5,000,000 event that is a difference of about $705K.
The United Kingdom operates a special regime for arriving foreigners: 4 year foreign income and gains regime for new arrivals. The United States operates none.
Inheritance, what a child pays: 40% in London, 40% above $15M, plus New York in New York.
Route in: London by Founder & talent. New York by Residence by investment, Founder & talent.
Cost of the life is 96 in London against 108 in New York on the Patrician.ch index where Zurich is 100, and safety 7 against 6 of 10. Both are Patrician.ch editorial indices scored by us, not published statistics.

Source: the Patrician.ch board, an original ranking of 100 residence addresses across 47 countries and territories. Tax rates, thresholds and routes are sourced. Cost, safety, schools, sun and beauty are Patrician.ch editorial indices. Figures current to September 2026. Updated 27 September 2026. Cite as: Patrician.ch, London vs New York: tax, residence and cost 2026, patrician.ch/compare/lon-vs-nyc/, September 2026.

	London	New York
Effective tax at $300K	39%	35%
Effective tax at $1M	43%	43%
Effective tax at $3M	44%	49%
Kept at $1M	$568K	$567K
Capital gains	24%	38%
Inheritance tax, children	40%	40% above $15M, plus New York
Cost index (Zurich 100)	96	108
Safety	7/10	6/10
Schools	10/10	9/10
Sun hours	1,630	2,530
Supercar street index	#12	#32
Routes in	Founder & talent	Residence by investment, Founder & talent
Net millionaire flow, 2025 forecast (country, Henley)	−16,500	+7,500
Flight London	Home	7.8
Flight New York	7.8	Home

Simplified marginal model, indicative 2026 brackets, non-US single filer, no social contributions, deductions, wealth taxes, or treaties. Inheritance is shown as it falls on a child, current to September 2026.

By profile

How each profile reads.

For an executive on salary

London keeps more of a $1M salary, $755 a year on this model. New York answers with the life itself.

For a founder with an exit

Capital gains: London 24%, New York 38%. Neither city taxes wealth as such.

For a family

London leads on schools, safety and a lower cost, New York on sun.

London The full page New York The full page Rank both on my numbers The engine, 90 seconds

Questions

Which keeps more of a $1M income, London or New York?

London, by about $755 a year on Patrician.ch's 2026 model.

London takes an effective 43% of $1,000,000 and New York takes 43%. At $3,000,000 the rates are 44% and 49%.

Which taxes capital gains less, London or New York?

London, at 24% against 38% in New York.

On a $5,000,000 liquidity event realized after residence begins, the difference is about $705K.

Which is better for inheritance, London or New York?

Both tax children. What a child pays: 40% in London, 40% above $15M, plus New York in New York.

The UK taxes an estate at 40% above £325,000, with a further band for a home left to children. A spouse inherits free. Since April 2025 exposure follows 10 of the last 20 years of residence. Federal estate tax at 40% above $15M per person, plus New York estate tax up to 16%. A US citizen spouse inherits free.

Which is cheaper to live in, London or New York?

London, at 96 on the Patrician.ch cost index against 108 for New York, where Zurich is 100.

Safety scores 7 of 10 in London and 6 of 10 in New York, schools 10 and 9. These are Patrician.ch editorial indices, not published statistics.

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The general case, ranked: Where should high earners live in 2026 · Best country to live in if you are rich · Best countries for high earners after tax · Europe · United States · Americans moving abroad · Tax calculator · Keep Index 2026

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Tax figures use a simplified marginal model with indicative 2026 brackets for a non-US single filer, ignore social contributions, most deductions, wealth taxes, and treaties, and are not advice. Residence rules change often. Verify before acting.