What if you were born in United Kingdom?

If you had grown up in United Kingdom instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in London could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Palace of Westminster and the River Thames, London. Photo: Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in United Kingdom

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in GBP and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in United Kingdom: GBP 3,470Rs 1,280,000
Rent (city centre): GBP 1,000
Transport (public transport): GBP 133
Food: GBP 501
Saved: GBP 520

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in United Kingdom: GBP 7,960Rs 2,930,000
Rent (suburbs): GBP 2,030
Transport (public transport): GBP 305
Food: GBP 1,350
Saved: GBP 1,190

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in United Kingdom: GBP 12,900Rs 4,750,000
Rent (city centre): GBP 3,160
Transport (car): GBP 1,210
Food: GBP 1,580
Saved: GBP 3,610

Try it with my own income

A day in London

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in London, a city of cool winters around 4°C and cool summers around 18°C.
Commute
You take the metro or train: about 25 to 35 minutes, door to door, and it runs on time.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak English.
Lunch
Lunch might be fish and chips, and a Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding.
Evening
You get home with GBP 1,190 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast and the mountains.

United Kingdom compared with Pakistan

	United Kingdom	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	4.0× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	81 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	9 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	4.8%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	10°C	26°C
Languages	English	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	GBP	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs United Kingdom, living in United Kingdom and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in United Kingdom?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around GBP 7,960 a month at the same level in United Kingdom (about Rs 2,930,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is United Kingdom more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 4.0 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in United Kingdom?

Mainly English. English is an official language.

Can I actually move to United Kingdom?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs United Kingdom page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.