BubbleChog

Here in the God Fearing South Ikea is deserted on a Sunday Morning

rpjs

Hah! That's certainly not the case around godless Noo Yawk!

Fatboyslick

I think there's quite a large misconception that America is cheaper than the UK.
It all depends on where you're located like earlier posters said and where you've come from.

So far in LA everything but Gas and Cars is either the same cost or more expensive than what we had in England.

WJS

Exchange rates also make a difference. When the pound was 1.65 against the dollar it made a difference even in New York and LA. Things are still cheaper in in the south even with the stronger dollar.

n lon to ny

im going to have a solely USD income so long may the Dollar be mighty...............

Pulaski

I lived in London immediately before relocating to NYC. My experience is that you are wrong, in almost all aspects.

Nutmegger

Way upstate New York, perhaps, but not NYC. When did you live in the city?

Reigndrop

I live in Theater District and have been there for the past 6 years. I also travel frequently to London for business -- for me to keep up with my current lifestyle in London, I would need 1.5x more (central flat, dinners out a few times a week, etc)

capin

I just moved to Hickory NC. Everything dirt cheap down here

Pulaski

That's a mighty long way from Silicon Valley!

capin

I was given a choice in the early days of my relocation planning. Silicon Valley at our headquarters or North Carolina at one of our big datacenters.

I could probably have got more money in SF but hey, there's more to work/life than just money. When I took the following factors into consideration, I plumped for NC -

1. Property prices (rental and purchase). I can rent a 4 bed detached house in Hickory for < $1500 a month. The SF bay area prices are crazy.

2. Traffic and congestion. I have a lovely 10 minute drive to work here with no traffic jams.

3. I'd rather live in the countryside rather than a big city but I am still only 45 minutes from Charlotte here.

4. 5hr time difference to the UK rather than 8 making staying in contact with family at home a bit easier.

So far I love it here.

Pulaski

Agreed to all of that, except my commute is more than ten minutes. I discovered all those things more than twelve years ago when I moved here.