How do people afford to work in expensive areas of the country?

[Stu999]

I've seen a job online that I'd really like to do but the salary is under £30k and it's located in the South East, not that far from London (edit: closer to Oxford). How do people afford to do these 'normal' salary jobs in areas like this? Purely from already living in the area / having family to help out? Been employed for many years and bought a house more than 20 years ago?

Edit - Trying to keep this vague has led to assumptions so a bit more about the situation:

- I’m in my 40s,
- I’ve worked 20 years in a career I no longer enjoy so wanting to change,
- Currently earning a little over £40k,
- Current rent in the NE is £500/month for a 2 bed flat,
- the role I’m interested in is skilled but a manual job so WFH is not an option,
- it’s closer to Oxford along the M40 than London itself,
- would be maybe for a couple of years to get the experience then maybe look to move back to the NE or a cheaper area,
- it’s a difficult field to get into and not many jobs crop up.

 

[Stu999]

Houseshare like a student.
Living at home.
Never go out.

Yeah, I had a quick glance on Rightmove and some of the house shares are more than my 2 bed flat in the North East.

I could just about afford to rent somewhere on the salary but there would be no 'spare' money. It would be like resigning myself to working forever. Only way would be if I did it short term with a view to moving to a cheaper area in future.

 

[Stu999]

I did zone 3 on less. Just live in a flat share.

I'm very annoying and I hate other people.

 

[Stu999]

Where abouts in the South East? If your talking Bexley/Dartford then 30k is easily do able especially if you have a partner earning similar. Ok the former won't be living a glamorous life style but its certainly doable.

Probably should have been more specific. It’s M40 corridor not far from Oxford. Saying London probably skewed the responses.

It’s just me and I’m not otherwise independently wealthy.

 

[Stu999]

Shack up with a partner who earns more. No mortgage.

I'm ugly. RIP.

 

[Stu999]

Updated OP with some more detail:

Trying to keep this vague has led to assumptions so a bit more about the situation:

- I’m in my 40s,
- I’ve worked 20 years in a career I no longer enjoy so wanting to change,
- Currently earning a little over £40k,
- Current rent in the NE is £500/month for a 2 bed flat,
- the role I’m interested in is skilled but a manual job so WFH is not an option,
- it’s closer to Oxford along the M40 than London itself,
- would be maybe for a couple of years to get the experience then maybe look to move back to the NE or a cheaper area,
- it’s a difficult field to get into and not many jobs crop up.

 

[Stu999]

I live in Brighton and share a 3 bed terrace with 2 others in town, rent is £1920 a month and it's about £2400-2500 all in with bills.

It's doable but obviously not ideal, the cheapest flat on zoopla in this area is a 1 bed for £995. Plus bills it would be about £1300/1350 a month.

Is that split between the three of you?