Half of all children in London are in households living with less than is needed for a decent standard of living.
The Minimum Income Standard research is updated every two years. The latest report launched in June 2025.
What is a Minimum Income Standard?
For the last decade, we've funded research to explore how much income is needed for a decent standard of living in London. The Minimum Income Standard is a measure of what a person needs to earn in order to reach an acceptable standard of living.
The headline figures of the research are stark. More than four million adults and half of all London's children are living with less than is needed for an acceptable standard of living.
An acceptable standard of living doesn't mean the bare minimum. It means enough to afford the essentials, but also what's needed to participate in society, and to live with dignity.
How does it work?
MIS research is based on detailed conversations with Londoners about how much a decent standard of living costs. It looks at the public’s views on how much is needed to meet costs such as food, housing, fuel costs, household goods, childcare and transport.
It also takes into account ‘basic social and cultural participation’ - that is, taking part in activities like having one low-cost (UK) holiday each year, giving presents and enjoying some modest meals out. These kinds of activities are an important part of what we consider a decent standard of living.
Headline stats
-
50%
of London's children living below a minimum income standard -
4million
Londoners earning below a minimum income standard -
70%
more income needed in London than rest of England for single adults