UK Real Living Wage Increased

The Real Living Wage foundation has just calculated the most recent figures (2026-2027) for the real living wage: £14.10 across the UK and £15.45 in London

The RLW is the UK’s only independently calculated wage rate that is rooted in what is needed to cover living costs and provide workers and families with long-term security and stability. Now, thanks to the commitment of nearly 17,000 Living Wage Employers, hundreds of thousands of workers will benefit from a pay rise.

The RLW movement is needed now more than ever, with the cost of living increasing. With ONS data released just last week it was revealed that 1 in 6 workers (5.2 million people) are now being paid below the Real Living Wage – this is an increase of 800,000 from last year, meaning millions of people are struggling to afford life’s essentials and are facing difficult choices between heating and eating.

In 2026, 17.3% of UK jobs pay below the real Living Wage, up from 14.6% in 2025. The difference between the Real Living Wage (14.10) and the National Living Wage (12.71) is around £2,700 per year. For a worker, this difference can mean:

8 months of food and drink/6 months of transport costs/5 months of housing & bills*

*This includes net housing costs, water, electricity and gas. It excludes mortgage interest payments, council tax and Northern Ireland rates.

All text and imagery can be found at https://www.livingwage.org.uk/