Budget on a £30,000 Salary
A realistic budget breakdown based on UK tax rates and living costs in 2026. No fluff, just numbers that work.
Take-Home Pay After Tax
Gross Salary
£30,000
Income Tax
-£3,486
National Insurance
-£1,886
Take-Home
£24,628
That is £2,052/month in your bank account.
Recommended 50/30/20 Split
Needs
£1,026
Wants
£616
Savings
£410
Monthly Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent / Mortgage | £600 |
| Council Tax | £110 |
| Utilities | £95 |
| Groceries | £150 |
| Transport | £100 |
| Phone & Internet | £40 |
| Socialising | £100 |
| Subscriptions | £30 |
| Clothing | £40 |
| Savings | £200 |
| Flexible spending | £387 |
Practical Tips
£30k is the UK median salary. You are not rich, but you can live comfortably with discipline.
Salary sacrifice into your pension reduces your tax bill and boosts retirement savings.
Set up a standing order for savings on payday - pay yourself first.
Switch energy suppliers annually - loyalty costs hundreds.
If you drive, consider whether public transport would save money overall.
Start a Stocks and Shares ISA even with £50/month - compound growth matters.
Work Out Your Exact Budget
These are guidelines. For a personalised calculation based on your actual income and expenses, use our free calculator.
Useful Tools
More Budget Guides
Budget on a £25,000 Salary
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Budget on a £40,000 Salary
£2,619/month take-home
Budget on a £50,000 Salary
£3,227/month take-home
Budget on a £75,000 Salary
£4,582/month take-home
Budget for Couples
£3,667/month take-home
Budget for Students
£1,167/month take-home
Budget for Single Parents
£2,072/month take-home
The 50/30/20 Budget Rule Explained
£2,336/month take-home
Budget for Saving an Emergency Fund
£2,052/month take-home