London or New York? It is one of the oldest arguments on either side of the Atlantic. Below are the basic facts side by side and what living in or visiting each is like, but first, vote in the two polls above: where would you rather live, and which would you rather visit?
London and New York at a glance
| London | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,799,800 (Greater London, Census 2021) | 8,804,190 (New York City, 2020 Census) |
| Area | about 1,570 km² (610 sq mi) | about 780 km² (300 sq mi) of land |
| Average high in July | 23.9 °C (75 °F) | 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) |
| Average January high / low | 8.4 °C / 2.7 °C (47 °F / 37 °F) | 4.2 °C / −2.3 °C (39.5 °F / 27.9 °F) |
| Rain and snow per year | about 615 mm (24 in) | about 1,260 mm (49.5 in), including about 76 cm (30 in) of snowfall |
| Time zone | GMT in winter, BST (GMT+1) in summer | EST (GMT−5) in winter, EDT (GMT−4) in summer |
| Flight time between them | about 7–8 hours: usually closer to 8 flying west to New York, closer to 7 flying back | |
| Currency | pound sterling (GBP) | US dollar (USD) |
| Main airports | Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, London City, Southend | JFK and LaGuardia, plus Newark in New Jersey |
| Metro | the Underground (the Tube), opened 1863 | the Subway, opened 1904 |
Sources: ONS (Census 2021) and US Census Bureau (2020 Census); climate figures are 1991–2020 averages from the Met Office for Heathrow and from the National Weather Service for Central Park.
The population figures are a near tie, but the comparison is not quite like for like. Greater London covers about twice the area of New York City's five boroughs, so New York is far denser.
Living there
Both cities are among the most expensive places to live in their countries, and in both the biggest cost by far is housing. Renting is common in both, especially near the centre, and a long commute is the usual price of more space. Renting works differently, though. In London, a tenant's deposit has to be held in a government-approved protection scheme, and the law limits how big it can be. In New York, a broker's fee on top of the first month's rent and the deposit was long a familiar shock for newcomers; the rules on who pays it changed in 2025.
Pay tends to be higher in New York in raw numbers, especially in finance, law and tech. Compare take-home pay rather than headline salaries, though. New Yorkers pay city income tax on top of state and federal tax, and health insurance is a major cost of its own.
Healthcare is one of the biggest differences. In London, residents use the NHS, which is free at the point of use and funded through taxes. In New York, most working people get health insurance through their employer and still pay part of the cost through premiums, deductibles and co-pays.
Work culture differs too. UK employees are legally entitled to paid holiday, and taking a few weeks off over the summer is normal. The US has no federal requirement for paid vacation, and many New Yorkers take less time off. London is often described as a little more balanced, though the City and Canary Wharf can be just as demanding.
In both cities you can live without a car. The Subway runs around the clock, which London's Tube does not do on most lines. On the other hand, London's network of buses, the Overground and national rail reaches far into the suburbs.
Visiting
London rewards history lovers: royal palaces, medieval churches, Roman remains, riverside walks along the Thames and some of the world's great museums. Many of its major national museums and galleries are free to enter; at the National Gallery, for example, general admission is free.
New York is about energy and scale: the skyline, Broadway, Central Park, food from every corner of the world and neighbourhoods that change character block by block. Most of its big museums charge admission, but walking Manhattan's grid or crossing the Brooklyn Bridge costs nothing.
Late spring and early autumn are the easiest times to visit either. New York summers are hot and humid and its winters can bring snow. London rarely gets very hot or very cold, but grey, drizzly days are possible in any month.
Which would you choose?
There is no objective winner. New York tends to win over people who want intensity, ambition and a city that never pauses; London wins over people who value history, green space and a slightly gentler pace. Living somewhere and visiting it are different questions too: plenty of people love a week in one city but would rather build a life in the other. Vote in both polls and see how your answers compare.
FAQ
What is the time difference between London and New York?
New York is 5 hours behind London for most of the year. For a few weeks in March, and for about a week in late October and early November, the gap is 4 hours, because the UK and the US change their clocks on different dates.
Which is bigger, London or New York?
By population they are almost identical: about 8.8 million each in their latest censuses (London in 2021, New York City in 2020). By area, Greater London is roughly twice the size of New York City, which makes New York much more densely populated.
Which city is more expensive?
Both are expensive by any standard, and the answer depends on what you compare. Housing dominates the budget in both. Salaries are usually higher in New York, but so are healthcare costs, while London residents pay for healthcare through taxes rather than insurance.
How long is the flight from London to New York?
About 7–8 hours. Flights heading west to New York usually take closer to 8 hours, and the return to London is often about an hour shorter thanks to the prevailing westerly winds.