York Named UK's Most Livable City, Outranking London

York has been identified as the most liveable city in the United Kingdom, according to a recent study that evaluated 25 locations across the country. The ranking, compiled using Wise’s Cost of Living Index, calculates a 'liveability score' based on the average of quality of life, safety, and healthcare indices.

York achieved a score of 85, attributed in part to its relatively affordable cost of living, with residents reportedly having a monthly surplus of £872 and rent consuming 35% of their income. Norwich followed in second place with a score of 81.3, and Edinburgh secured third with 80.3.

The study suggests that more affordable cities, often located in Scotland and Northern England, tend to perform better. Scotland, as a region, shows strong overall performance, with Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow all ranking within the top ten. Aberdeen offers the best value in Scotland, boasting a surplus of £1,017 and rent at 25% of salary, though Edinburgh is noted as an exception with rent at 45% of pay.

Northern England also presents a combination of high scores and affordability. Cities like York, Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Leeds scored between 74 and 85. Newcastle stands out with a surplus of £1,029 and rent at 34% of salary. Hull, while scoring lower overall at 68.3, is noted as one of the most affordable cities, with a surplus of £1,072 and rent at 25% of salary. Manchester, however, is highlighted as a weaker performer in the North, with a surplus of £287 and rent at 53% of income.

Conversely, the study indicates that higher-cost cities, including London and many in the South of England, do not score as highly in liveability and leave residents with less disposable income. Derby is identified as the most affordable city in the overall ranking, with a surplus of £1,344 and rent at 21% of salary.

Coventry was ranked last with a liveability score of 57. Other cities in the Midlands, such as Nottingham (66.7) and Birmingham (65), also ranked lower.

Southern cities like Oxford and Brighton scored well for liveability (76 and 73.7 respectively) but were found to be less affordable, with rent accounting for 53% to 62% of salaries and surpluses under £400. Cardiff scored 72.7 with rent at 40% of salary, and Belfast scored 71 with rent at 42% of salary.

Florian Ramos, marketing director for Europe at Wise, commented on the findings, emphasizing the importance of transparent and comparable cost-of-living information for individuals planning their finances. He stated that Wise aims to reduce the cost of managing money, allowing people to keep more of their earnings.