Living in a city is a different question from visiting it. Rent, healthcare, working hours and the daily commute matter far more than skylines, so the answer you give here may not match your holiday choice.
Why London
- Healthcare through the NHS is free at the point of use for residents, so changing jobs does not mean changing your health cover.
- Paid holiday is a legal right in the UK, and taking a few weeks off a year is normal.
- Lots of green space and a slightly gentler pace, with the rest of Europe a short flight or train ride away.
- A huge public transport network reaching far into the suburbs, so life without a car is easy.
Why New York
- Pay is usually higher in raw numbers, especially in finance, law and tech.
- The Subway runs 24 hours a day, and the city genuinely never stops.
- Unmatched energy and ambition: for many careers, it is the place to be.
- Food, culture and neighbourhoods from every corner of the world within a single subway ride.
Both cities are expensive, and housing is the biggest cost in both. In New York, health insurance and city income tax eat into the higher salaries, while London's lower pay goes with fewer extra bills.
For the full comparison, with population, climate, time difference and how renting works in each, see London vs New York.