United Kingdom vs Canada: take-home pay compared
A common comparison for UK professionals considering Canadian immigration (Express Entry, work permits) or vice versa. Canada's figures below are federal-only — provincial tax is the single biggest variable in the real answer.
Net salary side by side
Figures are calculated using this site's own tax engine for each country — click through to the full calculator to adjust for your exact situation.
| Gross salary | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom net/mo | 🇨🇦 Canada net/mo |
|---|---|---|
| 40,000 / 65,000 | £2,693/mo (19.2%) | C$4,413/mo (18.5%) |
| 55,000 / 90,000 | £3,538/mo (22.8%) | C$6,077/mo (19.0%) |
| 75,000 / 120,000 | £4,505/mo (27.9%) | C$8,064/mo (19.4%) |
| 100,000 / 160,000 | £5,713/mo (31.4%) | C$10,581/mo (20.6%) |
"Gross salary" is shown in each country's own currency at matching nominal amounts, not currency-converted — useful for comparing two job offers quoted in local currency. Effective rate shown in brackets.
Canada's federal-only rate looks flat and moderate — provincial tax is where the real story is
Canada's federal effective rate barely moves across this entire income range (18.5% to 20.6%), because federal brackets are wide and the top rate only bites well above $220,000. But provincial tax adds a further 5-10+ percentage points, and it varies enormously: Alberta has no provincial sales tax and comparatively moderate income tax, while Quebec applies noticeably higher combined provincial rates. A UK professional evaluating a Canadian offer should ask specifically which province before comparing numbers.
The UK's personal allowance taper is the opposite kind of complexity
Where Canada's complexity is geographic (which province), the UK's complexity is income-based: the personal allowance taper between £100,000 and £125,140 creates an effective 60% marginal rate in that specific band — a UK-specific quirk with no Canadian equivalent. Outside that band, UK rates are relatively predictable nationwide, unlike Canada's provincial patchwork.
Frequently asked questions
Federal-only, Canada shows a lower effective rate throughout this range (18.5%-20.6% vs the UK's 19.2%-31.4%), but Canadian provincial tax (typically 5-10+ percentage points depending on province) needs to be added for a real comparison. Alberta-based roles tend to keep Canada ahead of the UK at most levels; Quebec-based roles narrow or close the gap.
Quebec has the heaviest combined federal-plus-provincial burden and would sit closest to, or above, UK effective rates at comparable income. Alberta is the lightest and would leave Canada clearly ahead of the UK at most salary levels.
Canada's Express Entry system and various work permit streams are accessible to UK applicants, and UK qualifications are generally well-regarded, though professional licensing (medicine, law, engineering) often requires additional Canadian certification regardless of UK credentials.
No — these are nominal take-home figures, not adjusted for purchasing power. Toronto and Vancouver housing costs are broadly comparable to London; other Canadian cities are considerably cheaper.