UK and Ireland · Salary
UK vs Ireland: where does a £60,000 or €60,000 salary go further?
London and Dublin compete for the same people, and the tax take is closer than many expect. A £60,000 salary in England leaves about £3,780 a month, and a €60,000 salary in Ireland about €3,744 a month. In both cases you keep roughly 75%.
Side by side
| UK (England), £60,000 | Ireland, €60,000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | £11,432 | €11,200 |
| Social charges | National Insurance £3,211 | USC €1,333 + PRSI €2,543 |
| Net per year | £45,357 | €44,925 |
| Net per month | £3,780 | €3,744 |
| Share you keep | 75.6% | 74.9% |
| Top rate starts at | £50,270 (40%) | €44,000 (40%) |
Single employee, 2026/27 UK rules (England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland has its own rates), 2026 Irish rules. No pension contributions or student loan.
How the systems differ
- Tax-free income. The UK gives a £12,570 personal allowance. Ireland taxes from the first euro but gives €4,000 of tax credits, which has a similar effect at 20%.
- The 40% rate. Ireland reaches 40% earlier, at €44,000. The UK reaches it at £50,270.
- Social charges. UK National Insurance is 8% between £12,570 and £50,270, then only 2%. Irish PRSI is a flat rate of about 4.2% on all income, and USC adds up to 8% on higher incomes. On higher incomes Ireland's combined top rate (about 52%) is above the UK's 42%, or 47% above £125,140.
- The £100,000 trap. In the UK the personal allowance is withdrawn between £100,000 and £125,140, which creates an effective rate of 60% on that slice. Ireland has no equivalent.
Net pay at other salaries
| Gross | UK net per month | Ireland net per month |
|---|---|---|
| 40,000 | £2,693 | €2,798 |
| 60,000 | £3,780 | €3,744 |
| 80,000 / 90,000 | £5,230 (on £90,000) | €4,582 (on €80,000) |
What else to weigh up
- Currency. The pound has usually been worth more than the euro, so £60,000 is normally more money than €60,000. Compare offers at the current exchange rate.
- Housing. Rent takes a large share of take-home pay in both London and Dublin. Compare actual listings for the area you would live in.
- Pensions. UK employers must auto-enrol you in a workplace pension with an employer contribution. Ireland is introducing its own auto-enrolment scheme, starting from 2026.
- Healthcare. Both have public systems; in Ireland many employers offer private health insurance because GP visits are not free for most adults.
Compare net pay across countries →
Sources
This guide is general information based on the tax rules we could verify for 2026, not tax or financial advice. Rules change and personal situations differ, so check with the tax authority or a qualified adviser before you act. Spotted a mistake? Email contact@expatcents.com.