The best affordable areas to work as a hairdresser, according to wage and cost of living

New research from insurance company NimbleFins ranks the best areas in the UK to live and work for hairdressers and beauty therapists. The research takes into account both average wages and the cost of living, and this ratio is the most favourable in Wales, followed by London.

 The Best Affordable Areas to Work as a Hairdresser

Wales is the most affordable place for a full-time hairdresser or beauty therapists to live, taking into account both local wages and costs of living. Average pay is £18,481 and the average amount spent by a household each year in Wales is £24,461. This yielded a pay/cost-of-living ratio of 0.76. London ranked second behind Wales, with an average pay of £22,474 for full-time workers and average household spending of £34,232 yielding a pay/cost-of-living ratio of 0.66. While hairdressers and beauty therapists might earn the most in London, the high cost of living makes it harder to afford living in the capital.

 The Least Affordable Areas to Work as a Hairdresser

The East is least affordable for full-time hairdressers and beauty therapists, with an average pay of £14,196 and average household spending of £29,635 yielding a pay/cost-of-living ratio of just 0.48. Just behind the East is the South East, with an average pay of £17,534 and household spending at £34,190, equalling a wage and cost-of-living ratio of 0.51. Coming in third is Yorkshire and The Humber, with an average pay of £13,905 and household spending at £27,087, making the wage and cost-of-living ratio 0.51. While pay for full-time workers is highly variable depending on the area (ranging from £13,905 in Yorkshire and the Humber to £22,474 in London), part-time workers generally earn £8k-£9k a year, regardless of location. So, part-time workers are typically best off financially if they live in a cheaper area, such as the North East or Wales. Here's how the Real Living Wage will impact UK hairdressers.