Londoners 'wealthiest in the UK'

Londoners' salaries are 40% higher than the national average

Workers in London are wealthier than anywhere else in the UK, despite the high cost of living, a survey says.

The research by website payfinder.com calculated "wealth indexes" or the amount of cash available to workers after standard living costs.

The cost of living in London is 9.7% above the national average, but average salaries of £30,984 are nearly 40% above a UK average of £22,411.

Northern Ireland, with its well below average wage, was bottom of the league.

Meanwhile workers in Wales are worse off than Londoners.

Wealth indexes by region London - 129 South East - 107 Scotland - 105 East Midlands - 103 West Midlands - 103

Despite it being considered the cheapest place to live, with a cost of living 6.9% below the national average, the average salary there is 10% lower than the national average.

A spokesman for payfinder.com said Londoners have always earned higher wages than the rest of the country but it was thought the extra income was out-weighed by higher living costs.

"However, by taking this cost into account we see that in fact Londoners are better off," he said.

"Those looking forward to moving to the so-called easy life in the country would do well to consider this wealth index first."