Tens of thousands of people travel to UK every year. Is it expensive? Exchange from Chinese who have studied in UK for five years

Tens of thousands of people travel to UK every year. Is it expensive? Exchange from Chinese who have studied in UK for five years

Every year, tens of thousands of people want to study, live or work in UK. As a highly developed country, Great Britain has incomparable advantages. But these benefits come with a higher cost of living, especially in more affluent areas.

This does not mean that a good and affordable quality of life is impossible. Expats just need to do a little homework before heading out, as costs can vary depending on where and how you plan to live.

Rental expenses

Many locals will tell you that living in UK can easily eat into a large portion of your income. The shortage of housing in key areas has led to a steady increase in house prices and rents over past few decades.

The most popular cities can be especially expensive. In London, average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around £1,250 ($1,585).

Elsewhere in UK, rents are much lower, offsetting low wages with lower house prices. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Edinburgh is £995 ($1260), Manchester is £714 ($904) and in Birmingham. It's only £653 ($828). But it is worth noting that cost of renting in most popular areas of these cities can be much higher.

Many young expats, especially students, manage living expenses by living in same home. Although rents vary widely across country, it can be much cheaper than renting an apartment. It's also a great opportunity to meet new friends!

For those looking to buy a house in UK, UK can provide a relatively safe investment opportunity. Housing prices have risen steadily over past few decades, even with difficult economic conditions. Although buying a house in UK is not cheap, it is worth considering medium and long term benefits it can bring.

Invoices

Water, gas and electricity are not cheap in UK, although in an increasingly competitive market you can get some bargains. It costs approximately £100 ($130) per month for electricity and £34 ($43) for water. Again, this varies from region to region, depending on size and type of property you live in.

In addition, you must pay council tax. This money is paid to local council to pay for vital services and is based on value of your property. Most landlords expect their tenants to pay this tax along with their rent, although some may include it in original price.

Traveling around UK and across UK

Because UK is relatively small, most people travel by car, bus or train. But in recent years, a lot of low-cost airlines have appeared, and it is now relatively cheap to fly between some cities.

Train travel is not always cheapest option in UK and travel on most popular routes can be particularly expensive. However, you can save money on many trips by traveling at off-peak times, booking tickets in advance, or buying a travel pass.

It's much cheaper to travel by bus in UK. But low prices come with longer travel times.

Many people living in cities, especially London, enjoy a relatively good public transport system. This means they can save on cost of driving and avoid stress of congested city roads. Although cost is not always this low, it is usually cheapest and most convenient option for most people working in cities.

Family life and education

People who move to UK with their children can take advantage of country's free public school system. Standards vary greatly, so it's worth researching information about schools in each area. The most popular schools will attract students from all over world, which could mean higher housing prices and rents.

Most neighborhoods also have private or independent schools, but fees are quite high. The average cost per semester is around £5,500 ($7,140). But private schools usually offer a higher level of education and a wide range of extracurricular activities.

Many foreigners choose to send their children to international schools so that they can continue their education in same program as in their home country. However, tuition fees at these schools can be very high, especially in London.

Protect your health

The UK has public and private health facilities, and National Health Service (NHS) is committed to providing free health care for all.

Indeed, pressure on system means that long waiting times for appointments and treatment are common for many, and some foreigners are simply not eligible for free treatment.