United Kingdom vs United States

United Kingdom is the cheaper of the two overall. Here is how they compare on everything else.

Overall prices in United Kingdom are about 10% lower than in United States, based on the World Bank's price-level ratio.

Output per person, adjusted for purchasing power, is 1.5× higher in United States, so local incomes tend to stretch further there.

Life expectancy is 3 years longer in United Kingdom (81 vs 78).

United Kingdom records markedly fewer homicides per 100,000 people (1 vs 6).

Cheapest (0.3)Priciest (1)United KingdomUnited States
Price level compared with the United States (1.00), across every country with data. Source: World Bank, PPP conversion factor to market exchange rate.
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Side by side

IndicatorUnited KingdomUnited States
Price level (US = 1.00)0.9 (seed)1 (seed)
GDP per person, PPP$58,000 (seed)$85,000 (seed)
Income per person (GNI)$49,000 (seed)$80,000 (seed)
Inflation3% (seed)3% (seed)
Unemployment4.2% (seed)4% (seed)
Life expectancy81 yrs (seed)78 yrs (seed)
Internet users96% (seed)93% (seed)
Homicides per 100k1 (seed)6 (seed)
Urban population85% (seed)83% (seed)

Highlighted figures mark the better value where a direction is clear (lower prices, higher income, longer life, fewer homicides).

Visas between United Kingdom and United States

We don't have visa data for United Kingdom passport holders travelling to United States yet. Details

We don't have visa data for United States passport holders travelling to United Kingdom yet. Details

Basics

United KingdomUnited States
CapitalLondonWashington, D.C.
Population67,700,000334,900,000
CurrencyGBPUSD
LanguagesEnglishEnglish
Time zoneUTCUTC-12:00

Read more about United Kingdom or United States.

Sources and dates

  • World Bank Indicators (price level, GDP, income, inflation, unemployment, life expectancy, internet use, homicides, urbanisation). Latest available year shown per figure.
  • REST Countries for names, capitals, currencies, languages and population.
  • Exchange rates: European Central Bank via Frankfurter, seed.
  • Visa rules: Passport Index dataset (MIT licence). Rules change; confirm with the destination's embassy before booking.