Cost of Living in UK

[Cobbydaler]

My wife & I (she's American) are seriously considering emigrating to the States.

The cost comparisons are incredible, for what we pay to rent a 1 bedroom apartment in Manchester city centre you can rent a 2/3 bedroom house with 1.5/2 bathrooms and a double garage in the Detroit suburbs.

A top of the range Fiesta is £1,000 cheaper for a model with more equipment.

The equivalent of VAT in Michigan is 6% instead of 20%. General food & other item costs are lower.

Taxes on earnings are lower, 25% for our joint earnings at current level & no NI obviously. Admittedly healthcare costs have to be taken into account.

Why is the UK such an expensive place to live?

Welfare/NHS costs in part & VAT?

[Gary L]

I'm just going to play along with it. if there ever comes a time when I can't afford it no more, then I shall just tell them to whistle for it, and join the rest in stealing what I need.

that's the way Britain's heading in a few years. everyone looking out for themselves and needing to do what you have to do to exist.

nothing will be turned back (such as caring for the poor and vulnerable) once we've gone down that road with our minds set in that way. it'll stay that way.

I wouldn't consider the USA though. I can't stand them.

[danielf]

There's no doubt that cost of living in the UK is high. Your weekly shopping is about 25% more expensive than it is on the continent. It was that way when I first lived in the UK 20 years ago, and it has been so for the 10+ plus years that I've been here since. I've been wondering for a long time why everything in the UK is so much more expensive than it is on the continent.

Having said that, I'm not sure if Manchester city centre and the Detroit suburbs is a fair comparison. As far as I know,people are moving away from Detroit en masse as the economic prospects are dire to say the least. The same cannot be said of Manchester city centre.

Also: would you really want to change from Manchester city centre to the burbs of Detroit?

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I wouldn't consider the USA though. I can't stand them.

Have you ever been there? There are good ones & bad ones, just like the UK...

[Gavin78]

I have to agree everything is expensive at the moment, even roast beef its like 4 slices for around £3.50 its nearly doubled in price.

I was in Lanzarote back in April but that was even more expensive than here saw a perfume shop thinking it would be cheap I looked at some Jeun Paul I got my wife a few years back think I paid around £35 for 50ml over there it was 93 euro/£85.

The states is such a big place though I guess they can afford to have cheaper things because there are more people putting money back into the state

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by danielf

Also: would you really want to change from Manchester city centre to the burbs of Detroit?

Again, have you been there? Outside 8 mile (of Eminem movie fame) it's perfectly OK.

Link

[danielf]

Ah, yes. An aerial photograph of the prospective area changes the economic outlook for the area completely. Cobby: Did you start this thread to get advice or to get confirmation on what you've decided on?

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by danielf

Ah, yes. An aerial photograph of the prospective area changes the economic outlook for the area completely. Cobby: Did you start this thread to get advice or to get confirmation on what you've decided on?

It wasn't clear whether or not you were alluding to the pre-conceptions of the area. My wife has been in contact with many of her previous colleagues /acquaintances in the area, and the demand for people with her attributes /skill set is high (she used to work for GM in ergonomics & export compliance). The post was not about the economic outlook in the USA/UK but the relative cost of living.

[danielf]

Ermm, ok. You may want to change the title of the thread tough, as it really doesn't cover the content at all.

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by danielf

Ermm, ok. You may want to change the title of the thread tough, as it really doesn't cover the content at all.

Erm, yes it does, the cost of living in the UK is high compared to the US.

[Damien]

Are you or your wife an American citizen then?

[Hugh]

Surely a more appropriate comparison (re accommodation) would be like for like, rather than expensive city vs less expensive suburb.

My bro-in-law has just moved to New Jersey (state, not city), and whilst consumables are cheaper, he is finding things like insurance and Medical Care very expensive.

On the subject of medical insurance - two episodes I have personal knowledge of :-

A) my lad was in the US for Uni Exchange - a visit to the GP cost him $125, as this wasn't covered by the Medical Insurance (only hospital treatment)
B) my mate who lives in California is a keen cyclist - he came off his bike a couple of years ago and badly damaged his leg. His contributions, even though he had top of the range company medical cover, were $75,000.

Medical bills are the biggest cause of bankruptcy in the US.

Having said that, my son loved his year in the US, my friend in California wouldn't move from there, and my bro-in-law likes living there - it's the overall experience that counts, not the individual things.

[Damien]

Also I would look at health insurance costs. I've just done a quick quote to see how much it would cost me if I were American and living on the west coast. OUCH. $100-$200 a month without eye care and and I would still have to pay a deductible of at least $1000 a year should I require to, you know, use it! Not cool.

[Kymmy]

Whilst you're under 50 living elsewhere is not an issue, as you say costs are lower, standard of life is higher there's just issues like schooling, crime and healthcare to worry about.. Once though you get to an older age healthcare becomes more of an issue, you do need a good pension and long term healthcare coverage. Any major illness could turn an idylic situation into a major problem where life savings vanish overnight. This is the same for most countries outside of the UK.

IMHO if you're young enough go do it and you'll either love it or hate it.. Only you will eventually know just don't expect it to be the same as a holiday over there

[Cobbydaler]

Originally Posted by Damien

Are you or your wife an American citizen then?

My wife's an American citizen.