Re: Cost of living in UK
Pakistan or more so Dubai you live knowing that there is an acceptance of traditional values alongside what pple refer to as the "modern amenities"
Re: Cost of living in UK
I left UK in 1999 due to over crowding, expensive housing & if u see all the cost & your standard of living even what I earn was started looking "low pay" (BTW I was making 55k+ PA).
I usually tell people not to move to UK unless they are paid more than 45K so if the salary is 45K your friend can think of moving to UK depending upon his life style. My life style doesn't allow me to live in UK even if I make 65K.
Re: Cost of living in UK
Primary schools are provided free on state education. Income tax is high in comapirson to non EU countries. It’s a on a sliding cae i.e. first 12K at 10% and by the time your at £40k it’s around 50%.
The biggest expense will be housing. Houses in and around London are at silly prices. First time buyers find it near impossible to get on the property ladder. Much cheaper in the north around Manchester, Leeds but recently these have shot up much faster. Theris council tax you have to pay on every property which can range from around £1200-£2k p/a or more depnding on property. Bigger, expensive house = more tax.
I would say £45k is plenty to live on in UK. You wont get the maharja lifestyle with buttlers etc… rich people in Pakistan have. On average a UK national will earn around £15K a month. A graduate after a few years in profession is looking at £25k. £50k+ = doing very well
Re: Cost of living in UK
I'm going to go against the grain here and say that 45-50k is not enough to comfortably raise two kids on in the south east for two main reasons. Firstly housing costs. With 2 kids you need a house not a flat and that means monthly housing costs are going to be approx £1200 and up. Secondly if you opt for private education then thats another huge expense. I'm not saying it can't be done or anything - just that its not going to be as comfortable as everyone here is making it out to be. Don't expect huge amounts of disposable income after paying for the essentials.
Re: Cost of living in UK
i am willing if Bhabi is cute & willing to accept moonh bola bhai
Re: Cost of living in UK
You live in Dubai?
Re: Cost of living in UK
haha she’s a wonderful cook
Re: Cost of living in UK
Who doesn’t want a maharaja lifestyle? 
You guys pay 50% tax?!!! Thats ridiculous!
Re: Cost of living in UK
free health care, education, roads, social security doesnt come cheap. Actually I think it goes to 50% on £100k around 40% on £50k.
Why do you think the rich leave for Dubai, Monaco and other places.
Re: Cost of living in UK
Free Health Care = NHS = white useless elephant of British Health System
Free Education = make your children YOBS.
Roads = pay 8 pounds to take your car in London or 4 in Birmingham etc. yet wait hours on patchy bubbling roads.
social security = No thanks, never claimed it & never would like to in UK. You will see queues of yobs outside the Dole office.
Dont take my definitions offensively, there are several other reasons that I can count for not living in UK.
Re: Cost of living in UK
Unless changed here is the UK TAX system, for a married person with two children.
First 5904 pounds sterling = TAX Free
next 19096 = 24% TAX
next 35000 = 40% TAX (takes your salary to 60K).
then whatever u earn more than that is TAXED at the rate of 55%.
Now you calculate the aggregate.
Re: Cost of living in UK
In the US there are 6 tax brackets ranging from 10% to 35%. So if your total income is between 150K to 325K the tax bracket is 33%. That is the federal income tax. Then there are the State, Social Security and Medicare taxes. And there is that short term capital gains tax. On top of everything, we have a hefty 9% sales tax.
:D
Re: Cost of living in UK
Car users get ripped off proper hard as you mentioned.
NHS with it’s problem is still a fine insitute. I dont like the part privitisation of cleaners, caterig etc.. was fine before that. Mian thing is you know if you have a life threatning problem the state will come up with the goods unlike USA. Shoudnt compare to the french system as they pay much more into health than us. So you get what you put in.
Social Security= when it gets tough is a life save. Bit to lax at moment
Schools = cant complain. Plenty of yobs in private insitutions. If you want to learn you will.