UK standard of living lags behind nine European countries
Switzerland scoops top spot in survey as high property prices are blamed for dragging Britain down
Britain has the tenth-highest standard of living in Western Europe, according to new analysis of 17 countries.
The study correlates average wages with the cost of living to decide where Europeans have the highest standard of living. The UK comes behind the likes of Switzerland, Denmark and Germany based on the purchasing power of its inhabitants, although it does rank higher than France, Spain, Italy and Portugal.
The study, carried out for the jobs website Glassdoor, suggests high property prices are dragging Britain down the table.
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At around £32,000, according to the study, the average wage in the UK is higher than that of Germany or Austria. However, it comes below them on the league once property prices and other costs of living are taken into account. London, in particular, is ranked as the third-most expensive city in the bloc.
"When it comes to compensation, a larger pay packet isn't always better. What matters is the ability to afford useful things that enrich our lives," Glassdoor's chief economist, Dr Andrew Chamberlain, writes.
"Average wages vary considerably from one country to another but the gap between take-home pay and price levels has more relevance to the man on the street.
"A low cost of living, as you would find in Greece and Portugal, doesn't count for much if average wages and purchasing power are similarly low."
Here is Glassdoor's list of 17 European countries, ranked in order:
1. Switzerland
2. Denmark
3. Germany
4. Sweden
5. Netherlands
6. Finland
7. Norway
8. Ireland
9. Austria
10. UK
11. France
12. Belgium
13. Spain
14. Italy
15. Portugal
16. Greece
17. Estonia
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