UK living? Gathering info...

[siskiou]

We are looking into the feasibility of possibly moving to the UK in a couple of years (from the US), and I'm trying to get a general idea what the average cost of living is (probably varies widely, depending on the area), things like health insurance, rent, cost of sending your kid to university, car insurance etc

Comments

[towerbridge2006]

What an interesting idea! Please share all the informatiom with me. I can dream, can't I?

[siskiou]

Dreaming is great!

That's most likely what *I'm* doing, too, but you'll never know!
I researched a little more, and my husband would automatically get a spouse visa, so living there would be very possible.
Finding work is probably the biggest hurdle!

I'll share whatever info I find.

[towerbridge2006]

Thanks! <3

[byslantedlight]

Oh yeay, come and live in the UK! *g*

First and bestest thing - no health insurance! We have the brilliant, gorgeous, NHS and it works. Using it for free depends on your right to be in the UK (visitors are charged, nowadays). Oh, this is what the Citizen's Advice Bureau says about that:
Your entitlement to free NHS treatment depends on the length and purpose of your residence in the UK, not your nationality. There may be charges for some NHS services, for example, your dental treatment, and you may be entitled to help with these charges. Any free NHS treatment you receive, or any help with NHS costs, does not affect your immigration status.
If you are entitled to it, you can obtain free treatment immediately. There is no qualifying period.Hah - we all pay for the dentist these days... and optician... (unless you qualify for free treatment - kids, elderly etc

[siskiou]

Thanks for the wealth of info

[byslantedlight]

Hiya! I'm a bit worried about the comments below about rent being £600pcm minimum - it doesn't need to be! You're unlikely to get anything posh below that, but if your basic requirement is a 2-bed place, then here are some examples of what you can rent for under £500 from different cities (hope the links work!):

in Norwich, east England - a university town

in Folkstone, Kent - near Channel! - I reordered list from lower rent to higher

within 30 miles of Lancaster (north England) - starting around £200pcm

within 30 miles of Cambridge (east England but nearer London) - and this includes a 3 bedroom house for £165

[lisaloveslewis]

I'd say that the cost of living in the UK is quite high compared to many other countries. The South of England more so than the North. I find even my weekly shopping bills have gone up in recent months, food seems to be getting more and more pricey! But saying that living somewhere like I do in London you do have more job opportunities, despite the cost if living being higher. As for health insurance, health care is free (free in the sense that the government use the taxes we pay to fund it!) so that wouldn't be an issue. Also renting has gone down, my parents rent out a flat and are now getting half of what they did last year, as it's a 'renters market' at the moment (so the agents say!). Also I saw a job ad for an activity co-ordinator in a local nursing home (my sister works there as a carer) last week for £9 per hour with a 30 hour working week. So once you have paid tax on that not particularly good money. There is supposed to be a deficit of teachers but I'm not sure if that applies to primary school teachers. If you are looking

[siskiou]

Even though it's been a long time, I remember those interrupted nights

[lisaloveslewis]

Glad to have been of some help. If you check out Acas's website (think it's something like www.acas.org.uk)they give the best info on legal entitlements job wise. At the moment I believe holidays are 5.6 weeks, out of that you may have to take Bank holidays of which there are eight a year. Some employers may be kind and allow Bank holidays on top of your annual leave but legally they don't have to do that. I'm sure Acas explain it better! Also I believe teachers get more holidays than that, I'll have to ask my brother in law who is a primary school teacher, although perhaps you just have to take your leave in the school holidays

[lisaloveslewis]

Oh and another thought about having a car, if you did move to London it's hardly a necessity as public transport is on the whole good and driving into central London is madness!! We have sold ours now as we were rarely using it and if we really need to drive we borrow my mothers, plus there are some good car sharing schemes.

[siskiou]

I have the feeling, we'd be very ambivalent about getting a car.

When I lived in Germany, I never owned one and used public transportation, and our daughter is a little scared of driving and might never want to.

My husband, on the other hand, has always needed one, since public transportation in the US are pretty dismal, unless you live in a large city with a good system.

[caffyolay]

The UK is *huge* and wonderful melting pot these days, all nationalities, all religions, all welcome. As you are German and a citizen of the EU I would have thought you could work here without a problem. And, I'm not sure, but I think there's a shortage of people working in your husband's line of work so that might make things easier. And, as others have pointed out, we have the NHS here so no health insurance required - although you still can if you want. The NHS is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but all are treated for free, regardless of income. Again, as an EU citizen and resident here I would have thought you qualified. Dentists are a sticking point here but I think the gov are trying to sort it, plus I believe quite a few dentists are coming here from the continent to make up the shortfall. Life here is not perfect but I wouldn't live anywhere else... and travel to Germany is pretty easy obviously.

[siskiou]

Yes, our daughter and I could just hop on a plane and settle in the UK, if we wanted, and from what I've read, a spouse of an EU passport holder should not have any problems, either.

Love your icon! Is that where you live?
Any recs as to what area in the UK would be a good starting point?

We'd also have to look into renting and pets (most likely a fishtank, and possibly a bunny, as our youngest house bunny will hopefully still be with us, depending on the timing).

Free health insurance sounds like a dream!
Especially seeing the "improved plan" they are talking about here, currently! :D