Cost of living in UK

[purplepple]

Hi,

For those in country, can you provide details on the following for us overseas applying for an HSMP to have an idea of the cost of living in the UK, and for us to assess if the offered salaries of potential employers are acceptable:

pls provide in GBP per month

food (indicate how many people)
rent (indicate how many rooms)
utilities
tranporation expenses
entertainment
savings

[avjones]

For those in country, can you provide details on the following for us overseas applying for an HSMP to have an idea of the cost of living in the UK, and for us to assess if the offered salaries of potential employers are acceptable:

Sure - we are British citizens, living in central London, with a 2 year old son.

pls provide in GBP per month

food (indicate how many people)

About £350 a month, but we chose to eat organic food, nice cheese, etc, now we can afford it. We also get lunch at cafes, etc. You can spend a lot less.

rent (indicate how many rooms)

WE live in a 3-bed, 1 living room flat, and pay £800 a month in central London, but that is way below market rent. On the other hand, living outside the centre is less expensive.

utilities

Our bills are not monthly. We pay £300 a year for water (mains water and sewage), £40 a quarter for phone, £60 a quarter for gas (including gas cooking, central heating, and hot water) and £30 a quarter for electricity.

tranporation expenses

Not much, because we live in central London. If you live further out, you will need a travelcard. Have a look at www.tfl.gov.uk

entertainment

no idea!

savings

Pension and general savings, about £1,500 per month.

Our biggest cost is childcare - about £24,000 a year post-tax. This is for a nanny.[/b]

[purplepple]

Thank you so much avjones! These are really helpful.

I also have a son so our expenses can be quite similar. Though, I might be able to get a job in Bristol. What can you say about the cost of living there? Can I just shave off around 10% from London level of expenses?

The 24,000 pounds cost for a nanny is way too high for me. I don't think I'll be able to get one. How about day-care costs? Are they much cheaper? What can you say about the quality?

[avjones]

food and so forth will cost the same, as will utilities and car costs (apart from parking and congestion charge).

We have a nanny in our own home, because we are both barristers and need the flexibility. Nurseries tend to shut at 6pm or 6.30pm, and we can't both necessarily be finished by then.

The other childcare options are nurseries (from about 3-4 months old) or childminders, who look after a small number of children in their own homes. Both types are registered, certified, inspected, etc.

[superlondonguy123]

One important expense in UK is : Council Tax

Council Tax ranges from £100 to £130 per month which depends on the location and size of the house/appartment.

[avjones]

Good point - we pay ours yearly, and it's £1,600.

[purplepple]

What is the cost of these nurseries? My son is 4.5 months old.

food and so forth will cost the same, as will utilities and car costs (apart from parking and congestion charge).

We have a nanny in our own home, because we are both barristers and need the flexibility. Nurseries tend to shut at 6pm or 6.30pm, and we can't both necessarily be finished by then.

The other childcare options are nurseries (from about 3-4 months old) or childminders, who look after a small number of children in their own homes. Both types are registered, certified, inspected, etc.

[vc]

Amanda, this was very useful.

But just wondering - did you say British Citizens ?

[avjones]

Yes, but living costs are pretty similar whatever one's nationality (-:

[roy_rajat]

For those in country, can you provide details on the following for us overseas applying for an HSMP to have an idea of the cost of living in the UK, and for us to assess if the offered salaries of potential employers are acceptable:

Sure - we are British citizens, living in central London, with a 2 year old son.

pls provide in GBP per month

food (indicate how many people)

About £350 a month, but we chose to eat organic food, nice cheese, etc, now we can afford it. We also get lunch at cafes, etc. You can spend a lot less.

rent (indicate how many rooms)

WE live in a 3-bed, 1 living room flat, and pay £800 a month in central London, but that is way below market rent. On the other hand, living outside the centre is less expensive.

utilities

Our bills are not monthly. We pay £300 a year for water (mains water and sewage), £40 a quarter for phone, £60 a quarter for gas (including gas cooking, central heating, and hot water) and £30 a quarter for electricity.

tranporation expenses

Not much, because we live in central London. If you live further out, you will need a travelcard. Have a look at www.tfl.gov.uk

entertainment

no idea!

savings

Pension and general savings, about £1,500 per month.

Our biggest cost is childcare - about £24,000 a year post-tax. This is for a nanny.[/b]

800 GBP for a 3 bed room in C London is exceptionally cheap (which area do you live) Normally a small sized 2 Bed flat outside Zone 4 would be 850 pounds. And again your gas and electricity bills also seems to be very low. I live in a 3 room house and am paying 30 pounds for gas and 25 pounds for electricty each month.

[avjones]

We live in WC1. I did say "but that is way below market rent".

We have a traditional English dislike of paying energy bills, and so very rarely use our heating.

[vc]

Nah ! not the costs, but the forum - why HSMP !

[avjones]

I'm a barrister, specialising in immigration law!

[vc]

Got it ! thanks!