Living in Britain

[TPiddy]

I recently did a poll about the nationality of escapist users and it seems a lot of you live in the UK. For those that do, I have a question for you:

I am a web software developer in Canada, specializing in Flash / Flex, Coldfusion and some C# .NET stuff. I have seen a lot of jobs lately in the UK paying 40 - 60 K GBP annually, but I've also heard a lot of stories about how expensive it is to live there. Is 40 - 60 K a decent salary?

Currently my rent is 22% of my income, but a more typical number for Canadians would be 32%. Would I be able to get a decent place in Britain for 32% of 40 - 60 GBP? What's the average house price?

 

[StarStruckStrumpets]

My advice, it's better in Canada. I live in Britain and it is the most boring place I've ever set foot on. Better weather, better winters, better people...Canada is a good option.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Well, £60k would be $103kCAD at the moment, sounds good to me.

House prices, start at £50k for something crap and look up, unless you want to stay in the UK long term buying wouldn't be a good option.

£40-60k a year would be a very good salary. I've never earned more than 30 and do just fine (intend to earn more in the future though and I don't own a house). It is expensive to live in the UK, but it's quite expensive in Canada too. The only thing crazy expensive is Petrol/Diesel, more than £1 a litre.

 

[Dr.Poisonfreak]

Good lord that's a lot

The average price in Britain for a house is entirely dependent on where you live, so for instance, in the capital, London, the average price would be about £150,000 to buy, so yea you could easily afford to rent or mortgage a house for 32% of £60,000.

But like i say it all depends where you are moving to.

 

[Jonatron]

I'm not sure, but don't get a home anywhere near London. The price down there for even a flat is extortionate (Although the wages there scale accordingly.)

As for is 40-60G good, Yes it bloody is. A few years back I believe the published figures for teacher salaries were 26 grand, wasn't it?

I'm not sure of prices these days, but you'd be looking at less than 200k for a two bedroom semi-detached. To buy, that is.

And I might be entirely wrong, too.

 

[Disaster Button]

Not sure about House prices but if you're gonna go to the UK

Make sure you live in London or Newcastle (as long as it's a nice place in Newcastle.. they can be hard to find)

 

[TPiddy]

Hmm, that's a good point... I wasn't sure whether I'd want to buy or just rent, see if I enjoyed it....

I have an English/Scottish background and like a lot of British staples like heavy metal, classic rock, golf, etc. I think I would fit in well there.

I'm currently making $70 K CAD here, but I'm just not sure I'd be able to top the 100 K mark, though if the cost of living trade off is high it pretty much cancels each other out.

Gas is currently 88 cents a litre here.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I too am wishing to move to the UK, possibly next year.

Anyway, good luck to ya. And yes, 60K is a lot, I'm sure you'll have no problem finding a decent accomodation.

 

[TPiddy]

Yeah I think the housing here is the problem really, as the average house price in Toronto is about $350 K CAD, which equates to almost 200 K GBP.

 

[murphy7801]

renting is cheapish probably wouldn't be more than £1000 a month so about 20% of your income though the tax bracket might be the killer!

 

[TPiddy]

renting is cheapish probably wouldn't be more than £1000 a month so about 20% of your income though the tax bracket might be the killer!

Hmm, that's a good point... never thought about taxation. Right now my marginal tax rate is 31%.

 

[murphy7801]

Yeah I think the housing here is the problem really, as the average house price in Toronto is about $350 K CAD, which equates to almost 200 K GBP.

what sort of house is that ?

 

[murphy7801]

for that money your in the 40% tax bracket

 

[murphy7801]

Yeah I think the housing here is the problem really, as the average house price in Toronto is about $350 K CAD, which equates to almost 200 K GBP.

Also where in the UK are seeing these jobs because the cost living varies alot hear?

 

[TPiddy]

Yeah I think the housing here is the problem really, as the average house price in Toronto is about $350 K CAD, which equates to almost 200 K GBP.

what sort of house is that ?

It would be for a townhouse / duplex in the GTA. Typically, 2-3 bedroom, 1000-1500 sq ft. If you head out to some of the suburbs you'll find better deals, but then you have the commute in to work to deal with.

 

[TPiddy]

Yeah I think the housing here is the problem really, as the average house price in Toronto is about $350 K CAD, which equates to almost 200 K GBP.

Also where in the UK are seeing these jobs because the cost living varies alot hear?

I think several of them were London, Newmarket, Liverpool... I usually disregard the location because I can't seriously think about moving there right now.

 

[EchetusXe]

Anyone on £40 - 60 K will have no problems financially.

That is two to three times the national average.

Living in or around London is expensive, so it will be more cost effective to avoid the capital if you can.

 

[murphy7801]

Yeah I think the housing here is the problem really, as the average house price in Toronto is about $350 K CAD, which equates to almost 200 K GBP.

what sort of house is that ?

It would be for a townhouse / duplex in the GTA. Typically, 2-3 bedroom, 1000-1500 sq ft. If you head out to some of the suburbs you'll find better deals, but then you have the commute in to work to deal with.

well if in london you dont even want to start to think I live in a london commuter town which the house priced would be about £150,000 £200,000.

 

[murphy7801]

Yeah I think the housing here is the problem really, as the average house price in Toronto is about $350 K CAD, which equates to almost 200 K GBP.

Also where in the UK are seeing these jobs because the cost living varies alot hear?

I think several of them were London, Newmarket, Liverpool... I usually disregard the location because I can't seriously think about moving there right now.

london is very costly any where up north is alot cheaper but london can pay better and pays off if you commute.

 

[JDviewer]

40-60GBP is a pretty good salary. I would suggest, like many others have above me, that you don't live in the London area, chiefly because of the high prices of houses and even high rent at the moment. Last year I moved out of London into the suburbs where it is a lot cheaper, even with having to commute into the city centre.