Cost of living: US vs UK.

[InvaderGIR]

I can understand if some of you have some serious on-going illnesses, but barring that, I cant see why people are attaching so much importance on healthcare.

I'm not basing myself on the healthcare system. It's obviously a handy factor, but seeing as I'll only be there for up to a year it really isn't that big a deal.
Overall of course cost of living (ie rent, food etc.) is the main factor, but also as you say crime etc. is something I'd want to avoid/not be in a high crime area.

InvG

 

[kitten_caboodle]

Gas prices have went up.

well we went in September (Cali) and our hire car was 1.6 and cost $20-25 for a full tank. Still not even near comparable for the UK prices.

So, then lets say I wanted to move to the USA. I have a BSc and MSc What would I have to do?

First of all, drop your wage expectation. They can hire someone just as qualified as you and a lot younger from a developing country for a lot less money. So the likelihood is that they will. Once you hit 30, unless you are headhunted by a US company or you work for a company with a US branch that will sponsor you, you're pretty much relegated to the marriage route

I have family there who work in the IT industry, so it would be slightly easier for me, but not much.

 

[Munky1080]

I spend 3 weeks on holiday in Orlando with a friend, and I certainly enjoyed being there. Given the choice, I'd like to live or work there.
The one thiing that really annoyed me were the prices in stores. Over here, the shelf-edge proce includes VAT, so what you see is what you pay. But in the US (or at least Florida) its added on at the till :/

There is a VERY good reason that they do that. It's so you can see exactly how much you are paying in taxes. They aren't as "hidden" that way.

 

[Munky1080]

USA houses are cheaper, fact
if you do the same job in the USA that you did here, you would earn less, but everthing costs less, and overall you get MUCH more for your money.
you do pay for health care in USA but the NHS is appaling and i can garentee wont exhist in 10years time anyway
the UK is full of sponging foreigners, but im not sure what the situation of that is the the USA

i notice some posters mention the death penalty is in force in the USA like it is bad thing. I think the likes of ian huntely should have been disposed of years ago and save the taxpayers money. murderers/child rapists here get out in less than 20years if they behave, which is very wrong. Remember a dead rapist can't rape anymore!

The only place I have visited recently is texas, which is full of sponging mexicans, and imo is an undesirable place to live (they are all gay and are obsessed with church and it is extremely hot, no exageration here). I am very much considering moving to the north of USA wehn i graduate, such as michigan, maine, new york state.

Don't move to michigan, I've lived all over michigan, and it's either
A: Ghetto
or
B: Redneck
i'm not joking either lol...it's a dying state.
I recommend Seattle, it's got all the benefits fo a big city with none of the downside. Also, it's probably the area of the states that most like the UK.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

Don't move to michigan, I've lived all over michigan, and it's either
A: Ghetto
or
B: Redneck
i'm not joking either lol...it's a dying state.
I recommend Seattle, it's got all the benefits fo a big city with none of the downside. Also, it's probably the area of the states that most like the UK.

lol maybe not michigan then. its such a huge place its hard to decide where to go, but coming from the UK I would have a reasonable amount of US money so would be a nice area wherever I go. maybe california who knows. i want somewhere hot but not rediculus (like texas was) and with reasonable winters (iirc most of the usa has hot summers but very cold winters).