UK vs Canada Salary: Who Takes Home More?
Updated May 31, 2026 · 5 min read
The UK and Canada have a lot in common — parliamentary systems, public healthcare, similar social values — but Canadians keep a bit more of the same nominal salary, and avoid one of the UK’s nastiest tax quirks.
Same 100k salary, side by side
- United Kingdom (£100,000): ~£68,600 take-home, about 69%. Income tax (~£27,400) plus National Insurance (~£4,000).
- Canada (CA$100,000, Ontario): ~CA$74,400 take-home, about 74%. Federal + Ontario tax, plus CPP and EI.
Canada’s edge grows above £100,000. In the UK, the personal allowance is withdrawn between £100,000 and £125,140, creating a punishing 60% effective marginal rate — see our UK take-home guide. Canada has no equivalent trap.
The things a percentage hides
- Province matters. Ontario is mid-pack; Quebec taxes more, Alberta less — pick Alberta and Canada’s lead widens.
- Currency. £100,000 is worth far more than CA$100,000, so a like-for-like role usually pays a bigger number in Canada anyway.
- Healthcare. Both are public (NHS / provincial health), so that’s a wash.
The honest verdict
Canada keeps more of the same salary and dodges the £100k trap, making it especially attractive to higher earners. The UK’s advantage is proximity to Europe and, often, a higher gross in finance and professional roles.
Run your own numbers
Compare with the UK and Canada calculators, the full take-home by country table, or the comparison calculator.
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