Orangepants

NI contributions in the UK are used to fund state pension and certain benefits, not the health service - that comes out of general taxation.

tom169

Well you get the point I was trying to make. With general income tax it's definitely a lot more.

robin1234

But in the U.S. you also have co pays and deductibles, could be $1,500 per person for instance. In Britain there is no further payment once you've paid your tax. (Apart from prescriptions.)

tom169

I did make this point.

For my circumstances at this moment in time it is working out cheaper.

robin1234

Yes sorry, I should have read more carefully!

tom169

No problem. Just trying to make people aware that it's not all doom and gloom across the board.

deadshoppingmalls

Can't answer specifically to the UK as I moved to the US from Spain...however....

I find life here in the US cheaper than life in Europe..purely because my pay is better and I live in a climate that doesn't require extensive heating or air-conditioning.

In Madrid, we were paying E1200 a year between heating in winter (sub 0 every night) and AC in summer (35+ every day)

Food in restaurants is cheaper, but good meat in the market is more expensive as I want organic/farm fresh instead of Safeway garbage

I spend about $60 on fuel a month, and $20 on transit where as in Spain I spent E80 a month on transit.

My rent here is roughly equal to my monthly salary in Spain, however...my monthly salary here in the US is 5 times what it was in Spain...which is why I see the US as broadly cheaper as even in San Francisco..even though we're not loaded - we're a lot more comfortable than we were in Spain.

Pulaski

Interesting, but I don't think the rest of us were talking about vast discrepancies in pay. I think we were talking about the cost of buying stuff assuming roughly equivalent pay/salary; I certainly was.

UkWinds5353

Thank you Jerseygirl.

UkWinds5353

Thank you everyone for lending your voice and opinion. I know there will be some differences, but for the most part my habits will probably be the same. I enjoy doing the casual drive. Something about hitting the road which makes me feel so relaxed and free. Hard to explain but suffice to say it's one of my favorite things to do. Thinking that type outing will be a bit more expensive in the UK compared to the USA due to petro cost.

I have been looking at detached homes(300K range) on various websites and must say I'm very impressed. House prices are far better in the Manchester area vs central Florida. Just trying to figure out all the other expenses. Doing my homework to make sure this early retirement is workable. I originally was leaning toward London but after careful consideration, the relocation might best work well in the Manchester area. Less expensive housing cost, not far from London and most other major cities in UK, and easy access to Europe.

In America you can drive eight hours and still barely cross three or four states. The same amount of driving distance in the UK will gain you access to opposite sides of the country. Lots to think about and the planning phase is all part of the fun. Thank you for the advice.

deadshoppingmalls

But pay is a huge deal. I know that I wouldn't have moved here IF my pay didn't substantially increase or at least improve relative to the cost of living.

I know people from my old office that won't move here now (5 years after us) because the cost of living...(ie rent) in the Bay Area and the pay being offered by our company will no longer cover rent within an hour commute of the office.

This is of course...a very SF bay issue

robin1234

I agree that heating and air conditioning is a huge difference, and dependent on region AND type of home. Here in Norfolk, we have a modern flat. Combination of extremely mild English weather and modern building standards mean that heating costs are minimal. I haven't worked it out, but maybe a couple of hundred a year. In northern New York, we have a house built in 1865 that's poorly insulated in parts. The climate there is very extreme, and we pay maybe $5,000 a year for heating oil - plus firewood that we cut ourselves. Further south, air conditioning is significant.

Pulaski

I didn't say it wasn't, but look at the title of this thread.

Orangepants

I agree too. Our healthcare costs are minimal. Less than $300 a year for both of us for just the annual visits (No premiums). Hope it stays that way!

morpeth

Just a few observations on recent trip to UK in a working class town compared to same type of area in Midwest :

If I understand correctly prescriptions seem to be more expensive than in US, though considering other costs of course NHS distinct advantage.

Today went to post some mail in UK, definitely more expensive than US.

Definitely more choice in types of restaurants, though interesting the limited hours many seem to keep.

Grocery store seems less variety of products than US, but some excellent quality items ( such as salami/cheese from Europe) less expensive and rarely available in part of US I was in.

Great package deals for travelling to Europe on holiday, ridiculously high petrol and cigarettes.