There are a few things you should be aware of when moving to the UK. See below the things you…

There are a few things you should be aware of when moving to the UK. See below the things you will need to consider when moving here, and relevant links to get you started.

Why not browse by the 4 nations that make up the UK?

England

Living in London can be both a wonderful and intimidating experience. It is a fantastic city to live and work. Whatever the stage – be it the planning to move the stage, packing to go or unpacking on arrival, it’s vital to have a reliable source where one can discover ‘need-to-know’ information.

Housing

A one-bedroom property in the Willesden area of London costs an average of £200 per week, whereas the upmarket area of South Kensington costs £666 per week.

Food

London is a lot like other major cities – there are cheap meals to be had wherever one goes, but it’s easy to spend too much in London due to the number of great options. Grocery store prices are comparable to other major cities in the United States. Meals in London will cost about £5. London is the most expensive for food.

Cost of Living

No one can deny that the cost of living in London is expensive. However, one thing that’s in a Londoner’s favor is that the wages in the capital city are, in general, higher than anywhere else in the country.

Traveling

Travel in and around London is easy, and there are many options available for getting in and out, as well as travel within the city itself. One of the many benefits of living in London is that there really is no necessity to have a car. Most Londoners use the efficient transport network and underground trains called ‘Tubes’.

Cost of Entertainment

The cost of entertainment in London varies, of course, depending on individual taste. A cinema ticket is between £8 – £12 per person. The theatre & live performances are another source of entertainment in London that costs around £80. To keep track of everything that is happening in London, sign up for The Londonist and receive free email updates of activities in and around London

Internet & Phone Costs

The average broadband price in London is about £25. Purchasing a phone for temporary use in London is also a fair bit easier & cheaper than elsewhere in the world. The UK also has a Pay As You Go (PAYG) phone option.

Wales

Every corner of Wales has something to discover. North Wales, South Wales, Mid Wales, and West Wales. We also have three glorious national parks to explore – Snowdonia, the Pembrokeshire Coast, and the Brecon Beacons.

Cost of Living

Wales has some of the lowest living costs in the United Kingdom and most of the population enjoy a high standard of living. Living costs in Wales do depend on location, employment, and circumstances. However, historically Wales has had lower costs on items such as accommodation, travel, food, entertainment, shopping, and services. Property prices, council tax, and basic expenses in Wales all generally fall below the UK average.

Earnings

The average gross weekly earnings in Wales in 2014 was £537.

Healthcare

People living in Wales can access a full and diverse range of healthcare, with the National Health Service (NHS) and both private and complementary medicine practices available.
Wales – A Bilingual Nation
Almost everyone in Wales speaks English. Around 19% of the population also speak Welsh. English and Welsh exist side by side. Bilingual signs can be seen and both languages heard spoken.

Housing in Wales

There are a number of options for housing in Wales depending on individual circumstances. Wales has some of the most competitive house prices in the United Kingdom.

Entertainment

Wales has a thriving nightlife and loads of places to meet up with friends and have a good chat or dance the night away. Like our city centre clubs and bars in Cardiff where you can have a drink on outdoor terraces, or the legendary Mumbles in Swansea which offers a mile-long stretch of pubs and bars along the coast.

Northern Ireland

The country may be renowned for its work ethic, but it places equal emphasis on the friendliness of the people and the quality of life. There are an excellent education system, world-class healthcare service and all manner of very affordable property.

Leisure and Pleasure

Northern Ireland can be crossed by car in about two hours – north to south, or east to west – where in between there is a rich variety of scenery, activities, and a host of cultural attractions and leisure opportunities.

Beauty

In terms of beauty, Northern Ireland is no different to the south, with gentle green rolling hills, majestic cliffs and ancient grey stone ruins dotted throughout. In fact, it lays claim to one of Ireland‘s most popular natural tourist sites – the Giant‘s causeway on the spectacular County Antrim coastline.

Cost-competitive Workforce

Northern Ireland’s population of 1.8 million is one of Europe’s youngest and fastest-growing. Over 40 per cent are aged 29 or under, and 55 per cent are under the age of 40. There is an enthusiastic and steady stream of smart, talented people for knowledge-based companies seeking a strong workforce.

Property

Property costs in Northern Ireland compare very favourably with other regions in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Taxation

The overall tax burden in Northern Ireland is the lowest of all the major European economies.

Cost of Living

A single person in Northern Ireland can earn at least £14000 per year and will be able to afford a minimum socially acceptable standard of living.

Travelling

Three airports deal with almost seven million passengers a year. Belfast International Airport runs daily scheduled flights to destinations such as New York, London, Paris and Amsterdam. The region boasts four ports – Belfast Harbour, Foyle Port, Warrenpoint Harbour and Larne Harbour. Belfast Harbour is the second busiest port on the island of Ireland.

Scotland

A small country with a big heart and some of the most beautiful landscapes, with lively cities and welcoming people on the planet. Living in Scotland is not only enjoyable but generally less expensive than many other areas in the UK – weekly household costs can be 20% cheaper than in London and 10% cheaper than the UK as a whole. Have it all for less.

Housing

Although house prices and rent are often lower than in other parts of the UK, prices vary according to where one lives and the type of property one chooses. The average monthly rent is £537.

Food

The cost of weekly groceries depends on what is bought, the number of people shopped for and where one goes. The average household spends £54.80 per week on food, which is lower than most parts of the UK.

Home energy

Home energy prices will depend on how energy-efficient the home is and what energy supplier is chosen. Most households spend about £25 per week on gas and electricity for their home.

Getting around

Well-organized road, rail and ferry networks link Scotland from cities to the coastline. When planned ahead, one can often get cheap travel deals.

Public transport

If regular work trips are necessary, money can be saved by purchasing weekly, monthly or annual season tickets. The average household spends £12.40 per week on public transport.

Cars

Generally, car prices in Scotland are similar to other parts of the UK. If one knows what they’re looking for, they can usually get a good price. Most people in Scotland spend an average of £23.20 per week on petrol.

When working in the UK, you will need to pay both National Insurance & Tax. Once set up these will be automatically deducted from your wage each month. Please see the links below on what you need for these, and setting them up:

•     National Insurance: http://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number
•     Tax: http://www.gov.uk/income-tax

All employers in the UK are required by law to enrol employees into a workplace pension unless the employee opts out. This means a percentage of your pay is put into the pension scheme automatically, and in most cases your employer adds money into the pension scheme too.

•    Find out more here: http://www.gov.uk/workplace-pensions/about-workplace-pensions

Childcare costs can quickly add up therefore it is important you take advantage of the help that’s available and budget carefully.

•    Find out more here: http://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/childcare-costs

Rent can be very costly in certain parts of the UK, so it’s worth exploring all of the UK and decide which region is best for you and your family based on your cost of living. There are some lovely places outside of London which afford a better lifestyle balance for some.

For more information on the cost of living per region check out the information at the top of this page.

Or alternatively use the following link for searching properties: http://www.zoopla.co.uk/

Water, gas and electric all need to be considered as these will normally need to be paid monthly. The cost of these will greatly differ by the size of your property and the number of occupants so have a look at the best supplier based on your lifestyle.

•    Find out more: http://www.moneysupermarket.com/gas-and-electricity/gas-and-electricity/
•   Find out more: https://www.comparethemarket.com/energy/

The cost of council tax will depend on the property you are buying/renting, the area you intend to live in, and the energy efficiency of your home. With hundreds of councils in the UK, it is hard to give an exact figure for this. When researching properties make sure you ask for the council tax band and who your local council is in order to get an accurate cost.

•    Find out more: http://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands

You must have a TV licence if you:

•     watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they’re broadcast
•    download or watch BBC programmes on iPlayer – live, catch up or on demand

A TV licence costs £147 per annum for both homes and businesses.

•   Find out more: http://www.gov.uk/tv-licence

There are a few costs associated with owning and running your own car. The cost of these has many different factors, so please use the links below for more guidance.

•    Insurance http://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance
•    Tax http://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax
•    MOT http://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot

Depending on where you live and work, you may need to rely on public transport to get around and to commute to work. Use the following links to get a better idea of the cost of travel based on where you intend to live;

•    Transport for London http://tfl.gov.uk/
•    Trains http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
•    Metrolink http://www.metrolink.co.uk/Pages/default.aspx

There are many mobile phone providers in the UK, with hundreds of offers/deals. It is worth comparing all providers/plans to find the right one for you.

Websites like Money Supermarket allow you to compare prices easily:
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/mobile-phones/