What does it actually mean to feel wealthy in the UK today? The answer depends entirely on who you ask.
Wealth is a subjective concept — shaped by your income, your postcode, your lifestyle, and perhaps most of all, who you’re comparing yourself to.
That complexity was on full display last week when a financial adviser posted a simple, but provocative, question on LinkedIn: “Earning £100k+ a year but still don’t feel wealthy? You’re not alone…”
The post triggered a flurry of responses – and plenty of strong opinions.
“If you’re taking home over £10,000 a month and don’t feel wealthy, you’re doing something wrong,” one person argued.
Another was less forgiving: “This post is infuriating. For most people, that kind of money is unimaginable. Maybe try being grateful instead of complaining?”
Others took a more reflective view. “Wealth isn’t just about income,” one commenter wrote. “A high salary doesn’t guarantee security — having a plan does.”
Another added: “It’s not inflation that’s the issue; it’s the lifestyle inflation that comes with being a high earner.”
To be fair, the financial adviser wasn’t complaining — he was trying to spark a conversation.
He backed it up with data from HSBC’s recent Wealth Report, which found that in the UK, an annual income of £213,000 is now considered the threshold for feeling financially wealthy.
Even so, nine in ten people earning over £100,000 still don’t see themselves as rich. In fact, only 1% of UK adults describe themselves as “wealthy”.
A larger share (28%) say they feel “comfortable,” while a quarter consider themselves “average.” The message is clear: earning power alone isn’t enough to make people feel secure.
The report also highlights that wealth is about more than what lands in your bank account. Just over half of respondents said owning a private jet signals true wealth, closely followed by owning a second home.
These perceptions show how deeply tied our sense of wealth is to visible lifestyle markers, not just financial stability.
And yet, money remains a difficult subject. Only 37% of UK adults say they feel comfortable talking about it, according to the HSBC report.
For many high earners, there’s a strange contradiction: they’re earning more than most, but they don’t feel “rich” — and they’re reluctant to admit it.
There’s even a name for this phenomenon: money dysmorphia — a distorted perception of your own financial reality. Someone can have a healthy bank balance and still feel like they’re struggling. It’s less about the numbers and more about how you see them.
Geography also matters. In London or the South East, where housing, childcare and transport costs are sky-high, even six-figure salaries can feel stretched. But in places like Wales or Northern Ireland, where the cost of living is lower, that same income can go much further.
Then there’s the broader squeeze. From energy bills to grocery shops, the cost of everything has gone up. And for families with aspirations — such as private education — the financial pressure is mounting.
Research from financial planning firm Saltus shows that families earning over £100,000 are being squeezed harder than ever. In 2024, average annual day school fees hit £20,959 per child. With VAT added, that becomes £25,151 — more than £50,000 a year for two children, all from post-tax income.
Saltus now estimates the full cost of private education exceeds £476,000 per child, or over £1m for two by 2026.
“Private education has historically been within reach for professionals like doctors and lawyers,” said Saltus partner Mike Stimpson. “But with VAT now added to school fees, even those earning six figures are facing incredibly difficult financial decisions.”
But perhaps the most powerful factor shaping how wealthy we feel isn’t what we earn or spend. It’s who we compare ourselves to.
Social media doesn’t help. The endless scroll of luxury holidays, designer bags and dream homes can make it seem like everyone else is doing better. Even if you’re earning £90,000, it’s easy to feel left behind, especially when a colleague casually mentions their £120,000 salary.
It’s the classic “keeping up with the Joneses” problem. In a world of constant comparison, wealth becomes not just relative but elusive.
That said, I’m always mindful of how this conversation can sound to the majority of people simply trying to get by. As one commenter pointed out, £100,000 is unimaginable for most.
The median full-time salary in the UK is around £37,430. Millions are facing a cost-of-living crisis, struggling to pay basic bills or working multiple jobs just to make ends meet.
So, when we talk about not feeling wealthy on six figures, it’s important to hold that in perspective.
