It's worth noting within the UK there's a huge difference between London tech salaries and non-London salaries. Outside London £35,000 is normal for a mid level

It's worth noting within the UK there's a huge difference between London tech salaries and non-London salaries. Outside London £35,000 is normal for a mid level dev and aroud £45,000 - £60,000 for a senior. In London mid level devs are typically paid closer to £45,000 and senior devs typically start at around £60,000 although £90,000 is quite common for a good senior dev. I know the same applies in the US where bay salaries are higher, but London tech salaries are probably quite comparable to the average US non-bay tech salary. As you say though taxes are something to factor in and cost of living too. I've personally found that living outside of London and contracting is the best way to go for a senior dev in the UK as there is less regional variance in contracting rates and they typically pay higher than salaried positions anyway (plus less tax if you find jobs outside of IR35). Another benifit of living outside of London is that you have a lower cost of living and a housing market that is affordable for individuals with decent income.