Guido has more than once reminded us of how much gasoline costs in the UK, and I just got a comment from Joan in my last entry with the perfectly horrendous prices she has to pay for the grocery items I mentioned in that entry. I have wondered this before, and I'll wonder it out loud now (sort of -- you know what I mean):
Are other "costs of living" in the UK lower than in the US, like electricity, housing, etc.? I have to wonder because how can they pay so much for things like these without living in poverty? Wages must be higher over there or something. If we had to pay $9.00 for a gallon of gas we'd be up a creek without a paddle. Are there more people who take public transportation, walk, or ride bikes most of the time in the UK? Because here, for the most part, and for most people, those aren't options -- we have to drive. Is it a case of scale? In New York I would pay three times what I pay in mortgage here for something comparable to our house, but I'd be making more money an hour, so it would probably still be the same in ratio. Can we really compare costs of living in the US with costs of living in the UK without everything being equal? Do we have some sort of scale to go by? Do I even make any sense? I know what I'm trying to ask, but don't think I'm doing a very good job of asking it. Someone help! lol
14 comments:
I know what you mean. I have been talking to people on the west coast who say that things cost much less here in the south,but wages are lowere in the south.
I think what you are asking is....how do wages and costs compare?
Marti
Oh my goodness... I am not going to move to UK.
Lisa
Hiya, things are generally expensive here in the UK....getting to the point where you would have to take a mortgage just to survive. In this area an average 3 bed house (not detached) costs...in our part of England the equvalent of $300,000 yet in London the same size house would be about $1,000,000 if not a lot more. Our joint wages are about £1,800.00 per month (I suppose that would be about $4000.00) and we only just about get by. Blame it on taxes etc. Things are getting ridiculous and getting worse each month with rising costs. it costs roughly the equivalent of $160.00 to do our journeys to and from work in our cars....again the bulk of that cost is the government tax!! I'd gladly swap bills with you!!
I couldn't really make a comparison, Lori. There is public transport, perhaps more so, in the UK. Depending on whether you're in a rural or in an urban area, its frequencies and reliability vary enormously. Here in my corner, buses are very cheap. A 25 mile journey return costs $8. Groceries have shot up in price in recent months.
by the way, that cost of fuel for us is per week!!!!
just talking with hubby....he says for one thing...in UK....all medical is free....no one pays for medicine, doctors, hospitals, etc....economy is better than here....alot of folks on the dole or welfare...gas at 9.00 is no big deal over there....because folks make more money...but they pay out more too....so balances out I guess....we have friends in UK....they are not wel do do in UK...but here in the States they would be just plain rich LOL....I know prices are going up....this tax break that the president seems to think will help the economy is a joke...but I won't turn down a gift horse...he wants to give me money...I will make do the best I can with it LOLOL....oh we just have to be thankful every day for what we have or hope to have....and count our blessings!!!! hugs to ya...Ora
...... in Mexico, groceries will cost double and sometimes triple. Other things haven't gone up that much (cost of electricity or garbage pickup)....but it still makes me wonder.....their wages are not going up, so how in the world can people afford to eat?!
~Amy
Wish I had an answer to your question. It really is a good one. Right now my hubby and I are paying about $120 a week in gas. AND I don't work!!!!!!
It's insane.
Traci
Thank you, Joan, for making those comparisons. I think that you have made it plainer to me. I have heard that the taxes are much worse in the UK than here, so that must be a big part of it. I think I'll stay here in the states, after all! lol And I will hand over the prize for the higher cost of living to you guys! We are still really feeling the crunch, though. The mortgage on our three-bedroom house is less than $800.00 a month, and we spend about $100.00 a week on gasoline. I guess gas, groceries, and utilities are just so much higher now than they were just a couple of years ago, that we're all still experiencing the shock from it. For that matter, some things, like the grocery items I mentioned jumped up in price just in the past few months, which is why it still surprises me every time I do my grocery shopping. I don't see things getting any better, either.
Lori
It always makes me wonder if we started with the wages our parents made along with the prices of things back then... would it still average out the same except we just have more money in our hands and pay out more now?? lol When wages go up so does everything else. :-) Janie
You'll have to post the results! I would be interested in knowing myself.
God bless-
Amanda
It depends on the value of the dollar for that day. I use a converter. But that probably isn't how to figure it out because things aren't the same from one country to the next.
Nelishia
Now you have me thinking too....I think here in the States everything is relative as to where you live. Like you said, NY is much higher than here in PA but I would also make more in my earning so I think I would be right where I am now. I think. I can't wait to hear some answers!
Lisa
I know for a fact wages in the City (NY) are high, but so is cost of living. It's amazing just a few hours drive from me, into the city the change in prices. (Hugs) Indigo
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