Quentinb

Hi,

If one wants to live in a fairly decent house/apartment with 2 kids who will attend school. Maybe have a car if needed and just normal month to month expenses like groceries, schooling, transport, etc, what would be a good take-home salary (after all deductions like tax, pension, health-insurance etc)?

I know it depends on your own living standards, but something nice in a nice area with a nice public school etc. Not the slumps and not Buckingham palace, just somewhere inbetween

Thanks

Moses2013

As you say, it depends on your standards and the differences are huge across the UK. Some people might consider living in a big city nice, while others just hate any kind of city. I can only look at Northern Ireland although I'm living in the Republic of Ireland myself. Looking at wages in Belfast, they seem really low to me, but you can buy a really nice house next to the ocean in a great area just outside the city for the same price as an average apartment somewhere in Birmingham.

Quentinb

We will not be in any city. Most likely rural/farm living somewhere South if at all possible. I understand housing is the mayor role player here, but basic needs is what I am trying to find out.
Thanks

Novocastrian

Start by playing around on rightmove.co.uk which lists properties for sale and rent everywhere in the UK and in every price range.

Moses2013

That's the thing and even basic needs will be different for different people. Buying food is cheap anywhere in the UK and even with a very limited budget, you could eat well by cooking from scratch, while others just can't be bothered cooking. I'm never a fan of looking at what's a good wage, as my work colleague with the exact same wages will have a complete different life. You could look at what a minimum wage could offer in different areas, or when you actually have a job offer with salary, see what that salary can offer you personally. As Novocastrian said, look around and see for yourself. Even when it comes to car insurance, you could be paying hundreds more than another person with same experience in same area.

christmasoompa

holly_1948

Yep, that's why folks are going on so much about housing.
In UK housing is easily the biggest cost for most folks with transport costs in second place.
And if you know where you are heading you can cost those out fairly easily.

Contrast that with, for example, when I was retired in Florida my biggest budget item by far was the sum of the several insurances. (House, flood, hurricane, health, car, life, travel, veterinarian). By comparison insurance is really inexpensive in UK and many items not needed at all. For example car insurance is typically one fourth of the price in Florida.

SanDiegogirl

Living in a rural/farming area is going to limit your work options. Looking at your earlier posts looks like you are moving from South Africa - are you intending to work?

Quentinb

Thanks SanDiegogirl

I work from home, so location is not such a big problem for me. However, we do need to be close to schools for the kids.

verystormy

Quentinb

Thanks VeryStormy,

Your cottage sounds like the perfect place for us. I know what my basic monthly income would be and think I need to look around at renting costs etc and then come back here.

Novocastrian

Off toic, but my understanding of Manichaeism is as a 3rd C AD Persian dualist philosophy which views everything as either "good" or "evil". How does this relate to rural internet speeds? .

Perth

I can ditto that. We live in Norwich but travel all over North Norfolk a lot. Internet can be sketchy in rural areas. Rightmove has internet speed availability for their listed properties.

scot47

Be careful with the expression "public school". In England it means a school for the children of aristos and financiers that will cost you £30,000 a year. I think you mean what they call "State School" in England

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public...United_Kingdom)

Benson55

Work out a budget and see where you wanna go and can afford to go, I suggest central London is out.