Maz

I was responding to your comment, maybe not the original question. If I went "off-topic" then you did first.

Bob

now that's one serious commute

Ray

Im older ..my perogative

Maz

Especially as I work from home. My commute is about ... oh 30 feet. I was more talking about the schools situation and 'spare' money to be able to afford to live in downtown Chi-town.

Maz

Excuses excuses. Just admit it, I win!

And with that... goodnight!

Ray

82 hours 34 mins

Maz

G'night grandad/stalker.

Ray

BOO

snowbunny

I haven't EVER seen a 45K GBP offers for "freshouts" in the UK.... hardly any for experienced folk.

The sheer number of opportunities in the US is greater than in the UK, especially if one is highly specialised.

Have a look at monster.co.uk -- I do it to torment myself cos I have to wait to emigrate (don't ask).... anyway, even with 15+ years of experience and some very specialised skills I'd be hard pressed to get 40K GBP.

Personally? If he has a job offer, I'd stay in the US long enough to get you citizenship and him experience, and then move if that's still your choice.

Bob

your a programmer ain't you? If your hot up on graphics engines, AI physics, Lighting models and a couple years experience, you'll easily get that kind of money and more...and in the states, double that easily on the west coast...there's money to be had if you don't mind working with a bunch of 12 year olds

sunnyla

Hi All!

Thanks for all the enthusiam for my post.

Well mainly, I wasn't asking whether he will or won't get an offer for 40K in the UK but rather what should we expect to make if we want to live comfortably?

What kind of salary do we need to be able to live in Central London? We don't want to commute for 90mins... otherwise I don't see what's the point to leave LA!!

Thanks!

Englishmum

You might be better off posting your question in the forums here as many of us Brits left the UK some time ago and our salary info is likely to be out of date: (it's a site for American expats living in the UK).

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?board=10.0

Main Forums Categories Page:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php

Home Page:

http://www.uk-yankee.com/

PS. You would certainly not be able to afford to live on 45k if you lived in Kensington, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Pimlico etc. as these are the central London areas where the 'super rich' live, but you could possibly find it affordable in parts of Hackney (although much of it is being 'gentrified'/fashionable eg. Shoreditch which is very trendy nowadays).

It will most likely be cheaper to live south of the River Thames as the transport network is not as comprehensive as it is if you are north of the river. You would need to choose very carefully though as some places are clearly not desirable eg. Deptford, New Cross. We have friends who lived in a flat above a shop in Brixton near the tube station but they now have children and relocated to Lee (near Lewisham/Greenwich in south east London). I've heard that prices in east London are creeping up as the Olympic games will be held near Stratford in 2012, but it's always been cheaper than west London.

snowbunny

well let's see..... yes I'm a programmer but with main experience in operating systems and device drivers.

Graphics engines are a piece of cake but the other I'd have to learn.... and doing that kind of work means working mega-hours. With kids, I prefer the more sedate and lower paid jobs. Though if I still have any energy left when they are older, I may work more sos I can afford to retire someday!

To the OP: you aren't going to be able to afford to live comfortably *American-style* in London. Things you take for granted in LA, no matter how tiny your apartment/flat is, like air conditioning and one car per adult, are luxuries when living or visiting in London. And there is always weather in the summer in London so hot at night that you cannot sleep without air conditioning -- well at least two or three nights' worth.

Define what you feel you can't live without and then price it.

Englishmum

I do believe that the O/P is from France (she posted on the MBTTUK board). They don't tend to have have air-con in French homes either. When I lived in London I rarely bothered to use the car as it was easier to get around by bus and tube or rail. I only used it for buying groceries but that was before you could order groceries online.

scrubbedexpat099

A car is always useful, but if you are in Central London one each is taking it a bit far.

I was talking to someone who works in Silicone Valley, $90k starting is quite passible, but as the OP said they want your body and soul.

Chalk and cheese, London and California. OP might of course find it easier getting work, I used to work with lots of French people. But without US citizenship, has all that hassle to go through possibly again.