The funny thing about the food debate is that the Michelin guide just dropped today. 220 starred restaurants in Great Britain and Ireland, dozens of new Bib Gourmands, and it had this to say about London:

“Finally, London has once again had a barnstorming culinary year. Further cementing its place as a global gastronomic destination is a range of Stars reflecting the enthralling variety in the city’s dining scene.”

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/michelin-stars-reveal-uk-ireland-2025-all-awards-news

Anonymous wrote:London doesn’t make sense unless:

1. You have substantial family / multigenerational money.

Zone 1 and 2 is full of this

2. You are involved in premier league football

3. You are involved in formula 1 (the plurality of teams have their hq in the south east…but you won’t live in London)

Otherwise it makes no sense.

+100 - former expat, married to a Brit, moved back in part because I wanted a washer, a dryer and space for both. You can have anything in that city for the right price, but that price is likely much higher than here, and paid for in lower local wages unless you are a unicorn.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:London’s food scene is amazing. Why are people commenting on this if they clearly have no idea?

I’ve never had a good meal in any part of the UK. It’s like they don’t know how to season their food. Even the ethnic restaurants are bad!

Probably because you go to garbage tourist spots. It’s like saying you’ve never had a good meal in Times Square.

Anyway, for people that have lived there in this century, there is no question that London has an excellent food scene.

I loved living in London. Groceries -- especially produce -- are cheaper there (and yes I am obviously accounting for the exchange rate, because I am not an idiot). If you are paying as much at the supermarket in London as NYC, then you are purposely getting US products rather than nearly identical UK substitutes. I shopped primarily at Waitrose -- which is Whole Foods esque -- and my average weekly shop was about 2/3rds of what I spend here. Restaurants aren't that different in my experience; good ethnic food is comparable to NYC & similarly priced (DC ethnic food tends to be worse and more expense, except for a few specific types); cheap & cheerful type restaurants are comparable (though London has way more kids deals at these sorts of places, which makes them cheaper for family dinners); and high end places can get very expensive with more very $$$ places in London (more like NYC than DC).

I will say that our rent was much higher in London, though our flat was nice (and in zone 1). Utilities were actually comparable, as was public transport (though it's much better/more comprehensive in London than DC; again more like NYC). We didn't have a car there -- gas was $$$.

I do think it matters that the Brits have extraordinarily low student loans and most don't have private health insurance until their old enough to start having issues.

In 2021 there were 170,000 Americans living in the UK. Do you think they need rescuing?

How would UK living compare to the rest of Europe?

Places like Italy and Portugal look cheaper with nicer weather and even more benefits. Seems UK has gone the more conservative route

I would move in a heartbeat. Your money will work out.
Public transport is great, healthcare is good. Our friend had her baby assisted by midwives and she was very happy with the care.

Anonymous wrote:ExPAT

Do you want to have a complete thought? No one knows what you're trying but failing to say. You are just wasting everyone's time

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:London’s food scene is amazing. Why are people commenting on this if they clearly have no idea?

I’ve never had a good meal in any part of the UK. It’s like they don’t know how to season their food. Even the ethnic restaurants are bad!

Their #1, and sometimes only, seasoning is salt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only way to do London is via an expat package where your salary is grandfathered and you additionally receive a cost of living adjustment. Moving there on a local package and being paid local labor market wages is a dumb move. UK pays about 2/3 of the wage for a similar role in USA, it’s just how it is there. Healthcare is free. But specialists are difficult to find and poorly trained. Train system is built out but strikes that shut down the metro are common. Housing is just as expensive and the homes are smaller. Cars cost the same. Nearly all cars are diesel and it’s expensive. You’ll never ski again unless you can afford trips to the alps. Groceries cost the same once you factor in foreign currency xchange. You will never have a good steak, Mexican food or hamburger again. If you’re serious about moving prepare yourself and do the research. Most US immigrants to London give up US Citizenship in their 5th year or so - meaning you give up your US passport and the protections of US Embassies

Fantastically ill-informed nonsense from a genuine idiot. Thanks for playing.

Oh Really? Which part because I actually lived there for 5 years and we knew many in the international community who experienced and or would agree with everything I wrote. Did I touch a nerve lol.😂 Perhaps you’re a Brit with bad teeth living in denial about the reality of living the UK in comparison to here.

DP
I agree with most of what you wrote. The part about giving up your passport is dead wrong though. I lived there 7 years and got a passport after 2, still have my American one. My kids have both.

I hope you don’t agree most cars are diesel though, esp they only accounted for 3% of new car registrations last year.

Also, most people look forward to trying new foods and cuisines when they move overseas. If eating hamburgers and Tex-Mex are a big issue then it’s probably better to stay in the US.

I lived there 2000 to 2007 and yes there were tons of diesel cars on the road. Now when I visit there aren't as many, but I can't say it's something that I pay much attention to, i.e., I don't care enough.

Anonymous wrote:London’s food scene is amazing. Why are people commenting on this if they clearly have no idea?

I’ve never had a good meal in any part of the UK. It’s like they don’t know how to season their food. Even the ethnic restaurants are bad!

London’s food scene is amazing. Why are people commenting on this if they clearly have no idea?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only way to do London is via an expat package where your salary is grandfathered and you additionally receive a cost of living adjustment. Moving there on a local package and being paid local labor market wages is a dumb move. UK pays about 2/3 of the wage for a similar role in USA, it’s just how it is there. Healthcare is free. But specialists are difficult to find and poorly trained. Train system is built out but strikes that shut down the metro are common. Housing is just as expensive and the homes are smaller. Cars cost the same. Nearly all cars are diesel and it’s expensive. You’ll never ski again unless you can afford trips to the alps. Groceries cost the same once you factor in foreign currency xchange. You will never have a good steak, Mexican food or hamburger again. If you’re serious about moving prepare yourself and do the research. Most US immigrants to London give up US Citizenship in their 5th year or so - meaning you give up your US passport and the protections of US Embassies

Fantastically ill-informed nonsense from a genuine idiot. Thanks for playing.

Oh Really? Which part because I actually lived there for 5 years and we knew many in the international community who experienced and or would agree with everything I wrote. Did I touch a nerve lol.😂 Perhaps you’re a Brit with bad teeth living in denial about the reality of living the UK in comparison to here.

DP
I agree with most of what you wrote. The part about giving up your passport is dead wrong though. I lived there 7 years and got a passport after 2, still have my American one. My kids have both.

I hope you don’t agree most cars are diesel though, esp they only accounted for 3% of new car registrations last year.

Also, most people look forward to trying new foods and cuisines when they move overseas. If eating hamburgers and Tex-Mex are a big issue then it’s probably better to stay in the US.

Oh the righteousness. As if London and Uk food isn’t the most boring, tasteless, unsalted, unseasoned - just plan gross -food in the world. There is a dearth of dining in the UK. But go. Enjoy your mushy peas.

Maybe you haven't been in 40 years? Food in London is fantastic. Better than DC.

That's a very low bar. DC sucks right now. It had a moment, but was killed by covid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

My main question is why does London have such lower salaries than NYC despite being equal in opportunities and supposed wealth ?

The same role at a Deloitte or Goldman Sachs in London office is getting paid comparably less than the NYC equivalent.

Part of it is that they don't need to earn as much because education and health care is cheaper.

An American attorney practicing in London could very well have several hundred thousand dollars in student loan debt. The Brits will have somewhere between zero and five figures. Brits don't have to save as much for health care, retirement, education, because the government subsidizes those more.

The "health care is free" comments crack me up. Why do you think they pay considerably more in taxes? Not to mention that anyone with any money pays for private healthcare. I just read a long thread of Brits on social media talking about how the only way to get in for a procedure with a specialist without waiting years (or forever) is to pay to have tests done out of pocket (they were quoting 1,500 pounds) and then get the specialist to put you on the list for the procedure (which the NHS then pays for). In the end, it was more expensive than for an insured person in the US.

London doesn’t make sense unless:

1. You have substantial family / multigenerational money.

Zone 1 and 2 is full of this

2. You are involved in premier league football

3. You are involved in formula 1 (the plurality of teams have their hq in the south east…but you won’t live in London)

Otherwise it makes no sense.