British Expatriate Network

Cost of living UK vs US

Hi there and hope someone can help me. I’m looking at jobs in the San Francisco /
San Diego region and am wondering how the costs of living and salaries compare between the UK and US?

I think the cost of living in the US is around 25% less than the UK, with tax rates at 25% as compared to 40%, so that’s looking good, but then there is the infamous health insurance which pushes the equation back in the other direction...

As far as salaries go, my £50K in the UK would only equate to a US$ 65K position in the US, so given my partner and I live an average lifestyle back here in Blighty (ie eat out, cinema, weekends away a few times a month), then how does the money compare? Is there some amazing calculation / web site that miraculously that can compare these things, or someone who can offer advice?

We want to move to the US for a better quality of life, but only if we can afford to live and enjoy ourselves.

Finally, a basic question if I get a job and visa in the US can my partner (not spouse) automatically move over with me, even without a job, or does he need to get a visa separately?

Big ta!

VV

Hello and welcome

Firstly, California is just about the most expensive place in the country - your salary, whatever it may be will not stretch as far as it would if you were inland.

Secondly, your partner would have to come over independently - only spouses may attach themselves!

I am sure others will be along to offer better advice than I. )

don't sweat the small stuff until you have a visa in hand.

Everything is a cake walk once you get a visa compared.

comparing apples to oranges.

I suggest you trawl some real estate sites for that area to get an idea of just how expensive it is.

Store food is more expensive here in many places, but gas, clothes, household items etc are all cheaper, as is eating out. Medical insurance depends on your employer/scheme -could be minimal, could be a huge chunk of your salary.

Taking a salary cut to do the same job over here and living in that area are likely to mean that you would not be better off financially. But you would have the climate. And the earthquakes. Of course I'm nno expert an dlive about as far away from there as you can and still be in the States :D

Frankly, as Manc say #1 is to get your job and your visa. Until you have your visa, you can't come anyway, and until you have your job offer, you have no idea what your medical insurance will be. Then look at the housing. If you can manage housing and insurance on your salary, then you can start to consider the rest of the cost of living/quality of life issue.

And yes, your partner must get their own visa. Easiest way is to marry them, if they are of the opposite sex (unfortunately immigration does not re cognise same-sex marriages), then they can come as a "trailing spouse".

Hi all

Thanks for the advice and now we've trawled many of the links supplied on the site,
the visa issue does seem to be the most important thing to work out - sod how we'd
live it's getting there that matters! wink

VV

Well, from my six or so months here, I must say I actually find it a bit more expensive to live here. OK, this is in NJ, which is about the most expensive place in the country to live, but a lot of these things that you think may be cheaper are false economies - take gas/petrol - OK, it's cheaper, but you generally have to do a lot more driving to get to places since everything is a lot more spaced out, and most places have at best very rudimentary public transport, plus you're driving in bigger, much less fuel-efficient cars - I can't believe people over here think 30mpg is actually good gas mileage. So that ends up working out about even. Plus car insurance is more expensive, especially since you can't bring your no-claims bonus with you, a lot of groceries are more expensive, and taxation works out to be almost as much in a lot of places, although you can stand to get some of that back, depending on what you do and how good your accountant is.

No, we live in the most expensive place in the country..!!!! San Fran is ridiculously expensive compares to the rest of the country (okay except for LA, Beverley Hilles, Manhattan)

my very small 3 bed condo cost me $554,000, a 2000 sq ft family home will set you back a million. My tax is $557 a month. I guess it is pretty much the same as living in London...without all the dirt...and there is more sun.

I heard it was bad down there - be nice when/if you move though and the place has appreciated well, especially if you end up going somewhere a bit less "fashionable" (not Utah though!!!)

For $554,000, I could buy something pretty large round here. I doubt my 1800 sq.ft house is worth more than $185,000 right now and it's got a bit of land and in a nice estate.

A couple of years from now, you might be sitting on a nice little goldmine so hang in there.

Actually I think you'll find that Santa Cruz County is one of the most expensive....

Our 2 bedroom, 1700sq ft 1.5 bath town home is now worth $659K (according to our most recent appraisal - two weeks ago). The only other place I would live is Spain (due to racing/testing etc) but we'd never sell our house here, just buy another in Spain.

That said, I wouldn't move from here unless it was to Spain, good weather (not too hot, 5 minutes from the beach, friendly people and shops all within walking distance). Good cycle paths, safe, know your neighbor sort of deal (without the nosey neighbor baggage), good air and access to high quality supermarkets/food shopping and organic produce.

Oh and good local beer too...

So in essence, because the weather is better and more predictable you tend to go out and just exist outdoors, not necessarily spending more money because there's so much to do here that doesn't cost a lot....

Andrew

Oooh looks like it's time for the annual Britnet pissing contest!

lol


roll

Hopefully no entrants will attempt to pass off some picture they found on the internet as being their house.......

Actually I was going to say my Dad is bigger than your Dad...

In all honesty, from Marin on down to say San Diego and say inland roughly 200 miles it ain't cheap out here....I think due in part to the weather...

Now the fogs rolling in...

Andrew :)