Where to live as a graduate in London?

Hxc

Hxc

Hxc

Soldato
Joined
29 Oct 2004
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London
Hi all.

Am graduating from uni next year, and have multiple offers to decide between, plus a final one which I am in the final stages of the interview process which may end up being an offer.

I'm trying to work out where on earth I should look to live? I do not know London that well so do not know where I should be looking, and the like.

I know it depends on where I'll be working but they are all within Zone 1 apart from Canary Wharf. My budget is also variable dependant on which job I take as salaries vary from 27k to 35k. If I take the lower one (with probably better overall potential), I am aware I will likely have to share, but on the higher one I may be able to live alone.

What areas should I be looking in, though?

Cheers
 
Also, I think you'll struggle to live alone on 35k. I really think you need 60k+ these days to live alone, in a reasonable area, and enjoy a good standard of living in London.
 
Agree with that. 27k-35k will net about 1700-2000 per month assuming there's a student loan to be repaid.

You can easily sink half of that on rent sharing somewhere reasonable. Then add in bills, council tax, travel card, food shopping... you'll not really have that much left to do other stuff with. It's a great starting salary range but don't be kidded into thinking that you'll feel particularly well off.
 
You can get an affordable 1-bed around Brockley if you don't want to share.

The conservation area is nice and still within zone-2.
 
How are you supposed to dry yourself after having a shower? Get the wooden floor soaking wet?
Also I guess you are supposed to live off microwave food?
 
asim18 said:
Is that a shower cubicle next to the sink?
Click to expand...

And a shared WC - £7k a year and you don't even get your own bog lol.

To be slightly more helpful, Stoke Newington has only recently been gentrified. It's not on the tube though but busses are frequent and regular. Close to Zone 1.
 
RomanNose said:
How are you supposed to dry yourself after having a shower? Get the wooden floor soaking wet?
Also I guess you are supposed to live off microwave food?
Click to expand...

It's in Pimlico - zone 1.. welcome to london

A small 1 bed flat leasehold around that area will be worth £500k-700k
 
I had to live in a place like that in oxford to save a house deposit

it's worth making a decision
- are you trying to live cheap to save
- or want somewhere reasonable to live
 
PeterNem said:
Agree with that. 27k-35k will net about 1700-2000 per month assuming there's a student loan to be repaid.

You can easily sink half of that on rent sharing somewhere reasonable. Then add in bills, council tax, travel card, food shopping... you'll not really have that much left to do other stuff with. It's a great starting salary range but don't be kidded into thinking that you'll feel particularly well off.
Click to expand...

I know I won't be particularly well off, I'm not expecting to be, but I'm just wondering where to even look. I know people I can share with if needs be, so it's good to hear opinions :)

I find it a bit surprising that it's totally awful to live on that much. I live on approx 600 a month after rent in Clifton, as a student and have a really very, very good quality of life. I go out, I do a lot, I run a car, I buy what I want... I never feel hard up. I know london is more expensive but I can't imagine I would 'struggle' on 35k.
 
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Get close to the tube line that is closest to your place of work. Will make commuting easy. Ask the company where a lot of their younger staff generally live and have a look in those areas too.
 
Hxc said:
I know I won't be particularly well off, I'm not expecting to be, but I'm just wondering where to even look. I know people I can share with if needs be, so it's good to hear opinions :)

I find it a bit surprising that it's totally awful to live on that much. I live on approx 600 a month after rent in Clifton, as a student and have a really very, very good quality of life. I go out, I do a lot, I run a car, I buy what I want... I never feel hard up. I know london is more expensive but I can't imagine I would 'struggle' on 35k.
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Just wait until you get here.. Say that again in 1 year!

The lifestyle of professionals in this city is expensive, which destroys your bank account. Then rent is exorbitantly priced and so is any sort of insurance.
 
If you want to spend half your wage on rent, then zone 2 (Clapham) is fine.

I personally recommend going zone 3 (South). It's dirt cheap and you can get on the Northern Line easily.
 
Hxc said:
[...]

I find it a bit surprising that it's totally awful to live on that much. I live on approx 600 a month after rent in Clifton, as a student and have a really very, very good quality of life. I go out, I do a lot, I run a car, I buy what I want... I never feel hard up. I know london is more expensive but I can't imagine I would 'struggle' on 35k.
Click to expand...

In Bristol do you spend £20 on entry to a decent club and then £10 a drink?

A couple of nights a week like that destroys your income!
 
I'm currently south of the river, flatshare in Zone 1, it's not cheap.

I recommend you go south-west or north-west (Z2/3), make sure your commute isn't crazy. And share, do not live alone, you can't afford it.
 
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