Relocating to the UK

[To be]

Hi,

Been offered a chance to relocate to the UK. The salary is about 15% higher than I currently make. I've never been in the UK but I hope that there will be some helpful souls on this board. I know the salary increase will not offset the higher taxes I'll be facing, but hoping that the cost of living (outside of London) will be lower enough to make up the differences. What are the taxes and cost of living like in the UK?

[Grouty]

Well depends on what salary you are on now and where the 15% puts yo on the tax bands.  Go look at the HMRC web site and look at the income tax bands.  Housing and transport, depending on where you are will be probably higher.  Have look on gumtree for housing costs.  Have a look at the Tesco or Sainsbury website for food costs.

[dont]

Hi,

Been offered a chance to relocate to the UK. The salary is about 15% higher than I currently make. I've never been in the UK but I hope that there will be some helpful souls on this board. I know the salary increase will not offset the higher taxes I'll be facing, but hoping that the cost of living (outside of London) will be lower enough to make up the differences. What are the taxes and cost of living like in the UK?

Dont come to the UK, its a dump!! The quality of life is so low that you will be depressed, just google UK for expats and you will find it is right at the very bottom of the scale for satisfaction. In some places of the UK, you might as well go to Islamabad as there are very few differences, in fact prepare to feel the wrath of Sharia law as that is now legal in UK.

[previous plonker post]

what a pile of guff - another 10 minuter thinks asia is all rosy.....just a matter of time , tick tock

[work out tax bill]

Use a web site to work out the tax bill on your salary and then see how much you are left with.

The chief cost is accommodation.  Outside London, it would be much cheaper than Singapore.  Even in London, ignoring the disticts for the super rich, the accommodation costs are cheaper.

Another major cost is schooling.  State schools are few and far between and have long waiting list.  Private schools are expensive.  If you have kids, try and negotiate education costs with yur employer.

Cars are much cheaper although public transport (trains) is expensive and buses are rubbish.  Infrastructure is rubbish in general and crime is much higher than in Singapore but there is much to gain and enjoy from a stint in the UK.  Overall, if financially it makes sense, I think you should go for it.

[dont]

what a pile of guff - another 10 minuter thinks asia is all rosy.....just a matter of time , tick tock

When was the last time you been back to England mate? I dont mean the posh end of towns, but really do pay a visit to east London. You need a reality check.

[Let Me Guess]

Not from the posh end, then, PP?

[oy mouthy cockney]

3 times this year, a blast each time.

[To be]

Thanks for the advice. The government does take quite a chunk - however, as I'm not looking to be in London since my company is Essex, rents do look far more reasonable than here.

Are public schools in the UK that bad? My child goes to a private school here and judging from the websites of a few private schools in the UK, the cost seems similar; however, I was hoping that public school would enable me to save some money.

[Three Be]

Public schools in the UK are the best in the world, the likes of Eton and Harrow, Merchant Taylors etc are top of the list but are terribly expensive.

State schools, well thats a different matter altogehter.  You can find the rating of the state school closest to where you intend to live by googling for the state school league table.

[oldmate]

I used to have a friend in my street who went to Merchant Taylors. His parents saved hard and did without to send him there. He ended up with fantastic grades, went to a great Uni and became a surgeon. All this whilst playing rugby for the county. His Dad was a builder.

[Dunroamin]

"State schools are few and far between" - One of the most bizarre comments I have ever read on this board.

But anyway, having just moved back to London

- Tax, yes high but you already know that 15% won't compensate. I am now getting 35% more than in Singapore it is just about covers the tax diff

- Accommodation : As with Singapore, prices vary from the ridiculous to the more sensible. Because a lot of people can't afford to buy there is upward pressure on rent. Essex will be cheaper, but if you are in London commuter area, might well still be high particularly if near a good state school

- Cars : Obviously way cheaper. I just bought a new one for 1/5th of the Singapore price. Road tax is lower, insurance (similar, if they accept your NCD), and petrol is more exp. You can at least buy a diesel car though

 - Utilities : Don't know yet, but hoping that because I will only use the heating in winter as opposed to aircon all year round, it should be OK

- Shopping : Supermarkets seem quite a lot cheaper, with endless cheap deals.Electrical items also cheaper - even with 20% VAT

Of course this all depends on the current weakness of the Pound. A couple of years ago when GBP/SGD was at 3.1 it would have been very different

- Alcohol : Much cheaper

- Public Transport : Way more expensive, and although improved, unreliable

- Eating out : Seems broadly similar at the mid-range, but more exp at the bottom, especially for Asian food.  You can easily pay $16 for a Laksa and $12 for a McMeal

- Other : Cinemas are crazily exp. At least double with surcharges for 3D and glasses

[dont]

Not from the posh end, then, PP?

No Im not, came from Norfolk, farmers area which smelt like cow crap. Ive been around long enough to know the difference between Liverpool and Chelsea

[dont]

3 times this year, a blast each time.

Its what you make of it. I have no intention to pay tax at 40% nor do I want to come back. Like I said, the place is a dump and PP will regret moving to the UK for its LOWEST quality of life rating for expats. They will have to pay me £150k a year to get me back to that place, even then I probably would think again and certainly only for a couple of years only.

East Asia is the new game in town now, this is where the monies are. I guarantee that in Jan 2012 the UK will be back in recession and this time round what will they do? The place is economically battered, no resources (North Sea oil has been declining sharply since 99). Time is changing and we all need to adjust and stop being indenial over the fact that the UK is fu**ed beyond repairs. Just a matter of time..TICK TOCK

[Dr. Phil "fan"]

Just waiting for Dr. Phil to turn up and weigh in with his "immigrants are the source of all problems in UK" rant.