'National Living Wage should be enough to live with, not just survive'

The National Living Wage is expected to rise in 2026 but with rent, bills, and food prices climbing too, many young workers are wondering: will it actually make a difference?

The proposed increase of 65p an hour would bring the rate up from £12.21 to £12.86, adding around £1,400 a year to a full-time worker’s salary. But for many, especially those renting or working in cities, that extra cashis likely to be swallowed up fast.

Young UK residents have taken to Reddit with their opinions on the new living wage, and while there is some divide - the majority say its not enough. It comes after thousands of Brits to get shock letter from HMRC after drastic new tax rule comes into force.

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One 20-year-old wrote: "I'll probably never get a mortgage, I think I'll probably live in a pod or a log cabin. I don't really care for a brick house fortunately otherwise I'd be renting paying dead money as that'd be my only option rn - I'm 20 year old male."

Another user felt the same "I've gone studied and got the necessary qualifications to work in fitness. Now I get paid just as much as someone on minimum wage. It’s a joke."

"It needs to be even higher. It should be enough to live with, not just survive. Unfortunately a lot of people on middle wages punch down because minimum wage is catching up to them rather than punching up at the people giving them sh** wages."

What is the National Living Wage?

The National Living Wage is an obligatory minimum wage payable to workers in the United Kingdom aged 21 and over. According to recent government guidance, the National Living Wage could need to increase by 65p in April 2026.

In a letter, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said future changes should continue to reflect rising living costs, while still supporting job growth.

As of April 2025, the National Living Wage rose from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour and if the 2026 rise goes ahead as proposed, workers could see their pay reach £12.86 per hour.

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While £1,400 extra a year sounds like good news, the reality for many is more complicated. Rent prices continue to rise with London renters now paying an average of £2,000+ per month, while the cost of groceries and utility bills remains stubbornly high.

A weekly shop for one now regularly exceeds £70, and public transport in cities like London or Manchester has also seen annual fare increases and for a few years now petrol prices have been high.

For many people balancing bills, rent, subscriptions, credit repayments and even dating, the gap between minimum wage and a comfortable living is still wide.

The 2026 National Living Wage rise is likely to offer a slight boost to millions of UK workers. But for many already pushed to the edge by rent hikes, rising food prices and stagnant wages across sectors, it’s a step but far from a solution.

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