Living costs - Brighton

alexakasloth · 5 Jan 2011 at 15:28

Just having a chat with a coursemate about what we're going to be doing after we finish uni this may/june and it's got me thinking. I'd like to travel after university before going to london to find work in television (i've made some strong contacts in some good places). Ideally i'd like to move back to brighton (however i'm unable to live with my parents) but i'm not sure if this is realistic to rent and save enough to travel at the same time. I'd like to go to australia, work and travel, and then see some of asia.
What sort of costs am I looking at? If I get a full time job (39 hours a week) at say £6 an hour that's just under £900 a month to live on after tax. Am I missing any living costs here or should expect to pay more?
Rent (house share): £350/m
Council tax, gas, electricity: £100/m
Phone: £20/m
Food: £120/m

Any thoughts?

Gaijin · 5 Jan 2011 at 15:38

What part of town are you thinking of living in and how far in?

something daft already!! · 5 Jan 2011 at 15:44

Brighton is very expensive for rent and council tax. You would be better off living in a local town such as Peacehaven or Newhaven, much lower rents. Also food and drink is quite dear here too. Similar to London prices but the wages are not as high.

alexakasloth · 5 Jan 2011 at 15:47

Gaijin said:
What part of town are you thinking of living in and how far in?

Patcham/Lewis road preferably as I know it quite well and I have friends in that area, I've seen some rooms to rent on gumtree here and there for £75-80 a week. It's more the cost of council tax that I don't know about.

MickeyFinns · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:27

I live by Hove station so costs should be similiar, this is for a bedsit BTW.

Rent: £385
Council Tax: £70
Electric: £10
Basic Food: £90

Pestilence · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:29

Had a brief look and those rent costs are mental! :eek:

What exactly is a bedsit? Just a room?

matthab · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:33

Pestilence said:
Had a brief look and those rent costs are mental!

What exactly is a bedsit? Just a room?

Pretty much.

MickeyFinns · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:38

Pestilence said:
Had a brief look and those rent costs are mental!

What exactly is a bedsit? Just a room?

25ft by 20ft room with a kitchenette in the corner.

WingZero30 · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:41

Is Brighton expensive due to being a popular tourist area and comes with beach+seaside?

MickeyFinns · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:45

WingZero30 said:
Is Brighton expensive due to being a popular tourist area and comes with beach+seaside?

To be honest the fact it's touristy is quite a downside to living here, unbelieveably busy in summer. Pride actually doubles the population of the city for a weekend.

I think most of the popularity is due to huge amount of nightlife and the fact it's such a liberal city.

Raymond Lin · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:46

It's basically London prices by the sea.

MickeyFinns · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:47

Raymond Lin said:
It's basically London prices by the sea.

But without London pay haha!

Sp00n · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:50

It's expensive because it's awesome.

That and its only 45mins to London on the train.

alexakasloth · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:51

Raymond Lin said:
It's basically London prices by the sea.

If that's the case it probably worth trying to get a junior position in London, at least then I'm not missing job oppurtunities.

snapdragon · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:52

try spareroom some reasonable prices on there many inclusive of all bills except fodder natch

Pestilence · 5 Jan 2011 at 16:58

I take it you'd need to be a pretty decently high-flier to own or rent a decent detached (or even semi) that far South?

That really is crazy...what on Earth do people work as to afford that?

Raikiri · 5 Jan 2011 at 17:08

Pestilence said:
I take it you'd need to be a pretty decently high-flier to own or rent a decent detached (or even semi) that far South?

That really is crazy...what on Earth do people work as to afford that?

Yup, pretty much. My friend rents a little 2 bedroom maisonette and it costs £950 a month.

Our 3 (2 actual rooms and a cupboard

) room end terrace was valued at about £180,000 even with a discount from the council.

MotherMayI · 5 Jan 2011 at 17:14

howiepoohs said:
Brighton is very expensive for rent and council tax. You would be better off living in a local town such as Peacehaven or Newhaven, much lower rents. Also food and drink is quite dear here too. Similar to London prices but the wages are not as high.

He'd be better off slitting his wrists than leaving in Peacehaven or Newhaven.

£350/mo rent in Brighton will get you something nice, it all depends on how many people you are willing to share with. You should be able to pick up a decent 2 bedroom property for that around Western Road or Kemp Town though without issue.

Council tax also isn't too bad in Brighton, £100/mo should cover it np.