Celsius

The same could be said about people living in the US? How the hell does anyone afford to pay for health insurance, health care, a university education, auto insurance, real cheese, etc...?

antjen

it all kinda balances out though, sure most things are a lot cheaper in Us, but some things are cheaper back in blighty, like property, i belive grocerys are cheaper in blighty, medical insurance (or no need for it), yes gas is a lot cheaper in US, but then again US cars get awful fuel consumption so they need cheaper gas plus americans tend to try more/further in thir daily life, yes i belive the cost of living is slighty cheaper inamerica but its not as huge as most people (especially the media) suggest.

Yorkieabroad

We were just back in the UK from July 05 to Jan 06, so I kept a tally on our expenses - we're thinking of heading back, and it was a good chance to see what we'd need to make, and whether we would fit back into the lifestyle.

Our outgoings in the UK were about 80% of what they are in the US, all in. And that was for the most expensive part of the year - summer hols and christmas, plus a lot of extra travelling to visit people. And it included an allowance for what a mortgage would cost us in the UK for the sort of house we'd be looking for.

We've been back here in the US a month or so, and my (US) wife has taken to complaining about the crap and expensive produce in the supermarkets, the excessive time we spend in the car, and how less friendly people are compared to the UK!!!!

Sorry to disagree with the britbashers, but on our circumstances, moving from where we are now (Texas) to where we would be there (Yorkshire), its a lot cheaper in the UK.

TruBrit

yep totally agree with you and your wife's comments.

Big D

I agree that its hard to find quality fresh stuff - and its difficult to get it all in one place, we have to go to different places for different things (if we can be bothered!) We are lucky that everything is nearby though, and i think the prices even out with some things more and others less. My experience of Texas though is that everyone is mega friendly - almost too much sometimes. Maybe Houston is just the exception and tainted by its size?

Big D

Property cheaper in blighty? Where are you living in the US?

BigDavyG

manhattan, beverley hills ???

Bob

get a higher interest morgage that doens't check on your salary, which means you can lie and get a x6 instead of the customary x3 morgage:salary ratio...or wait for the old dear to kick the bucket

Yorkieabroad

Maybe its the Houston thing (well, we're not really Houston, we're Houston commuter belt) Or maybe its that the friendliness got beyond the superficial "how are you/have a nice day". Or maybe its that folk in Yorkshire are friendlier? Or maybe she mistook nosey for friendly Or maybe its because she got the reverse of the "nice accent" interest.....I don't know - but the post was meant to be about prices anyway !

Big D

Hey - you started with the unfriendly comments

Yorkieabroad

Yeah I know - it snuck under my "mustn't be rude about the lcoals" radar. Or maybe the radar was just turned off, as usual

Celtic_Angel

I've been told for a U.S city of it's size Houston is actually one of the much cheaper ones to live in.

Patrick Hasler

antjen

have you seen property prices in Los Angeles?? - half a million dollars! doesnt buys you anything decent, and im not talking places like beverly hills or malibu etc etc - the more down to earth cities like san marino or alhambra or pasadena etc etc

Yorkieabroad

I think thats right - certainly compared to the likes of LA/SF/NY etc. I guess the main thing contributing to that is the price of property. Before we came here, I found a website that claimed to compare cost of living in different cities, and what you would need to earn in a different city to maintain same standard of living as in your current place (anyone know the site? I've lost the link). From what I remember, Houston came out about 65% of the cost of living in Greenwich CT, and were we are (katy) was about 70% or so.