Real Living Wage rates 2026-27

Real Living Wage rates have increased by over 4%.

The Real Living Wage applies to all workers over the age of 18 working for a Living Wage Employer and is now £14.10 an hour across the UK (a 4.8% increase) and £15.45 an hour in London (a 4.4% increase). Accredited employers have until 1 May 2027 to implement the new rates.

The government’s National Living Wage applies to those over the age of 21 and is worth £12.71 an hour.

The Real Living Wage is different from the government’s statutory minimum wage rate (the National Living Wage) for those over the age of 21. The real Living Wage is a higher, voluntary rate that is independently calculated based on the cost of living. The government’s rate is the legal minimum businesses are required to pay by law.