UK is way cheaper than the USA
#211
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
#213
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Finally moving!
Posts: 1,236
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
So cheap that many are seasonally residents, treating the Florida house as a second home and escaping elsewhere in the Summer, usually where their grandchildren and roots are.
Michigan and Ontario are the biggest summer places. I have not met any who use UK this way.
I did meet a Scottish couple who are seasonal residents here in Fort Myers - but they go to Ecuador for their Summers!
Florida and UK seasonally is my hope, best of both worlds.
#214
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Florida (especially on the Gulf coast) is way way cheaper than places like California or Upstate NY. Which is why all those old people are here.
So cheap that many are seasonally residents, treating the Florida house as a second home and escaping elsewhere in the Summer, usually where their grandchildren and roots are.
Michigan and Ontario are the biggest summer places. I have not met any who use UK this way.
I did meet a Scottish couple who are seasonal residents here in Fort Myers - but they go to Ecuador for their Summers!
Florida and UK seasonally is my hope, best of both worlds.
So cheap that many are seasonally residents, treating the Florida house as a second home and escaping elsewhere in the Summer, usually where their grandchildren and roots are.
Michigan and Ontario are the biggest summer places. I have not met any who use UK this way.
I did meet a Scottish couple who are seasonal residents here in Fort Myers - but they go to Ecuador for their Summers!
Florida and UK seasonally is my hope, best of both worlds.
My wife remarked; "If I never set foot in Florida again, I will be happy."
Now that it is minus twenty degrees here, I have a bit of a hankering for Florida...
#215
Banned
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 174
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I have lived in the US for over 25 years and visit the UK 4-6 times per year. Much depends on your circumstance. Difficult to replace a life style including size and location of a house from US to UK. Most would have to downsize appreciably so tough to compare cost between the 2. Also salary's, at least half to a third what can be achieved in the US so where is that covered? In summary, what you pay less for in the UK is wheat products, milk, beer (not spirits or wine), veg and candy. Also health care if you go NHS but not if you go private. Electric, phones and gas is less expensive but service is terrible. What is defo more expensive in the UK is; housing, petrol, eating out, taxes, TV channel suppliers (especially if you like watching football), meat, fish, banking fees (scandalous). Hope this helps a little, I go back often for family reasons. Last but not least, what price do you put on the social discord in the UK, the nightly attacks in the town centers, the over-riding pesimistic mood, the fact you have to lock everything up that is not nailed down? However, how do you put a value on footpaths (best in the world), snooker, a decent pub (fast declining), heritage etc. Great debate!
#217
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
My American colleagues in KSA always pointed out that eating out in the US is cheap, with huge choice.
#218
Joined on April fools day
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: 30 miles from a decent grocery store.
Posts: 10,642
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
The latest info I could find stated that there were more than 504,000 restaurants in the U.S. , 40,000 of them chinese (more than double Mc Donalds). How many did you try?
#219
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
It can be and it can be cheaper too. I don't know what type of restaurants you are going to but I would say most are good...and I am extremely picky about what I eat. It's like anywhere some are bad...some are good...some are expensive...some are good value for money.
#220
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Joined: Oct 2010
Location: The sunshine state
Posts: 1,358
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I had some nice pub meals whilst in the UK and the price was comparable to the USA. UK restaurants much dearer, quality may be better in some cases. Quantity much less ( hence US obesity and doggie bags ) :-)
I do find that going out for a meal in the UK can be an evening out, whereas going out for a meal in the US I seem to have only just sat down before I'm out the door again and the tables cleared for the next diner and the waitresses next tip. Always seems rushed to me.
I do find that going out for a meal in the UK can be an evening out, whereas going out for a meal in the US I seem to have only just sat down before I'm out the door again and the tables cleared for the next diner and the waitresses next tip. Always seems rushed to me.
#221
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,919
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
[QUOTE=Bud the Wiser;10649883]I had some nice pub meals whilst in the UK and the price was comparable to the USA. UK restaurants much dearer, quality may be better in some cases. Quantity much less ( hence US obesity and doggie bags ) :-)
I do find that going out for a meal in the UK can be an evening out, whereas going out for a meal in the US I seem to have only just sat down before I'm out the door again and the tables cleared for the next diner and the waitresses next tip. Always seems rushed to me.[/QUOTE]
I feel exactly the same way - in fact on more than one occasion the server has actually taken my plate away before I was even finished - how rude is that?? I was back in the UK last October - had some decent meals at the Wetherspoons chain of pubs.
I do find that going out for a meal in the UK can be an evening out, whereas going out for a meal in the US I seem to have only just sat down before I'm out the door again and the tables cleared for the next diner and the waitresses next tip. Always seems rushed to me.[/QUOTE]
I feel exactly the same way - in fact on more than one occasion the server has actually taken my plate away before I was even finished - how rude is that?? I was back in the UK last October - had some decent meals at the Wetherspoons chain of pubs.
#222
Banned
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 174
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
are we comparing fast food restaurants or restaurants where meals are edible?
alcohol is dearer in the states too! price of wine when you go out is always in the neighborhood of 23-30 dollars for the low-budget bottles.
do you not pay service and tax on top of your meal in the states?
i actual count how much money comes out of my pocket versus what is in the menu list.
in the states the quality of food is in my experience not up to the par with the uk but you can argue that it is different. steak houses vs spicy food eateries etc.
i also concur that the us restaurants have no ambiance at all.
#223
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I had some nice pub meals whilst in the UK and the price was comparable to the USA. UK restaurants much dearer, quality may be better in some cases. Quantity much less ( hence US obesity and doggie bags ) :-)
I do find that going out for a meal in the UK can be an evening out, whereas going out for a meal in the US I seem to have only just sat down before I'm out the door again and the tables cleared for the next diner and the waitresses next tip. Always seems rushed to me.
I do find that going out for a meal in the UK can be an evening out, whereas going out for a meal in the US I seem to have only just sat down before I'm out the door again and the tables cleared for the next diner and the waitresses next tip. Always seems rushed to me.
#224
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Like Bud, I love the fact you are left to eat the meal in peace.
#225
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I tip fairly well, but i hate the expectation to tip everyone no matter how shitty the service.