Asking for a friend: Is £4.5k/month a good salary in Cambridge?

Posted by divineGeneral2@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 32 comments

Hey everyone,

Asking for a friend, is £4,500/month considered a good salary in Cambridge, UK?

The job is based in Cambridge, and we’re trying to understand realistically: • whether it’s enough to live comfortably, • save some money, • and what kind of lifestyle it supports there.

Would especially appreciate input from people currently living/working in Cambridge.

Thanks!

[-]

Sea-Still5427@reddit

What kind of job and is that figure before or after tax?

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Its a tech job and yes its after tax

[-]

split-tennisball@reddit

Are you that oblivious to reality that you have to ask?

[-]

Georgie_Pillson1@reddit

He’s just boasting. He knows it’s a good salary for his ‘friend’. He wants us to tell him he’s amazing and special.

[-]

Sea-Still5427@reddit

So about £80K a year, twice the median UK wage. I'm sure you'll cope.

[-]

ResplendentBear@reddit

Before tax: fine.

After tax: you're extremely well off.

[-]

OkSignificance5380@reddit

Lol.

It really depends on your situation

So you have kids? If so, how old?

Do you commute or works from home

[-]

ResplendentBear@reddit

Not really worthy of a "lol" is it.

OP could have super expensive hobbies like a crippling coke addiction/Warhammer 40k, and 8 kids. Or they might have a partner, no kids, and think Tesco Finest is a bit too glamorous for them.

I answered as well as you could with the information we had.

(Also, at what age do kids stop being expensive? Lol.)

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Okay mate

[-]

Ill-Opportunity8918@reddit

It's ample to live comfortably. You could pay 2k mortgage or rent and still have more left than many people earn.

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Okay mate thanks for the Info

[-]

CobaltFrame@reddit

Yes, if after tax, it’s almost double the median (full time) UK income.

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Oh okay

[-]

NoiseLikeADolphin@reddit

Seems like a great salary to me!

Depends what lifestyle you want to support I guess, maybe not enough to live alone in the city centre, but

I lived in Cambridge 6 years ago on about half that and felt comfortable: I shared a flat with one other person, about a 15 minute cycle/40 minute walk from the centre.

Obviously things will have got more expensive since then but yeah £4,500 seems like a great salary. I’d start by going on rightmove or similar and looking at housing costs!

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Thanks for the info mate :)

[-]

xwOBA_Fett@reddit

Is this a seriously question? Even in London, this would be a decent salary.

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Oh we have no idea, thanks for the info tho

[-]

Ambitious_Hackerman@reddit

Is this £4500 take home or pre tax?

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Yes apparently its take home

[-]

divineGeneral2@reddit (OP)

Oh sure thank you :)

[-]

When replying to submission/post please make genuine efforts to answer the question given. Please no jokes, judgements, etc. If a post is marked 'Serious Answers Only' you may receive a ban for violating this rule.
Don't be a dick to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on.
This is a strictly no-politics subreddit!

Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.