The US is a highly desirable location to live and work, due to its rich history and social and economic landscape.
For British emigrants, the United States is the second most popular destination after Australia. The advantages of living in the US are obvious: there is no language barrier, there are fantastic job opportunities, and the opportunity to achieve a high quality of living.
Some of the key points you should be aware of when emigrating to the US from the UK include choosing the correct US visa, your working rights, and understanding your immigration status if you marry a US citizen.
Cost of living in the US
The cost of living in the US is relatively high. The median rent for an unfurnished apartment in the US is over $1,500 per month.
The average cost of household food expenditure is approximately $8,100. Meanwhile, the average wage for a person in the US is approximately $40,000 per year.
US visas
There are two forms of visas available if you intend to enter the US: immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas.
Non-immigrant visas include those for tourist, business, or temporary employment purposes. There are also study visas and investor visas.
Immigrant visas include family, fiancé, long-term employment, and ‘special immigrants’ visa categories. In most cases, you will need a sponsor in order to come to the United States as an immigrant.
Working in the US
If you are eligible, you may be able to come to the US for work purposes. You must ensure that you have the required immigration permissions and that your application has been accepted.
In general, you will need to have an employment-based immigrant visa, temporary employment visa, a green card (a permanent resident card) or a work permit (an authorised employment document).
When preparing your application to work in the US, you should be aware that US and UK qualifications adhere to different standards and it may be necessary for you to engage the services of an organisation to verify the equivalence of your qualifications.
Marrying in the US
If you intend to marry your partner in the US, you will need to follow the local laws in the location where you wish to marry.
The marriage will be automatically recognised in the United Kingdom if you enter into a legal marriage that is in accordance with US laws, and if the marriage would be recognised under British law.
You will not need to register the marriage in the UK. If you move back to the UK with your spouse, they may be eligible to apply for citizenship if they have lived in the UK for at least three years.
FAQs
By some estimates, some figures have found that the United Kingdom is 0.49% less expensive than the United States, while others have found that the UK is 6.4% more expensive than the US.
How does cost of living compare UK to USA? ›
Consumer prices are 15.9% lower in the UK than they are in the US, not including rent. When rental prices are included, UK consumer prices are 23.1% lower than in the US.
Does the UK have a higher cost of living than the US? ›
Both nations have a cost of living that varies greatly depending on where you live. However, you can expect that there will be a higher cost of living in the US than the UK. Data shows that the cost of living is 0.49% lower in the UK than the US. This difference is even greater in cities that are expensive to live in.
Is the cost of living high in the UK? ›
However, the cost of living in the UK can be notably higher than in many other countries, varying by location and individual circ*mstances. The average monthly cost of living for a family of four in UK is $3,135 (£2,268) without rent.
Which is better USA or UK? ›
The UK is often considered a cheaper place to live. The cost of living in both countries is not the same and can vary depending on where people choose to live. It's also important to note that the average salary for someone in the US is significantly higher than what it would be in the UK due to taxes.
Which is cheaper USA or UK? ›
The cost of living in UK is 0.49% less than in the US.
How expensive is the UK compared to the US? ›
How much does it cost to live in the UK vs the US? According to cost-of-living comparisons, the cost of living in the UK compared to the US is broadly equal, with the UK being slightly less expensive by some measures. Consumer prices (including rent) in the United Kingdom are almost 8% lower than in the United States.
How much is rent in UK? ›
The average rent in the UK is now £1,220 per month after 8.3% growth in the last year. The highest average rent in the UK is in London (£2,119) while the North East has the lowest monthly rent (£695).
What country is the cheapest to live in? ›
The most affordable countries in the world to live and work: where to move to for a better living. The cheapest countries in the world are Pakistan, Egypt, and Bhutan. To live comfortably in one of these states, a person needs under $400 per month.
Is food more expensive in UK than US? ›
We analysed some of the most common items in a weekly shopping, looking for equivalent items where possible (such as value ranges and package sizes) and going by the current exchange rate via Forbes. The final score: 11 items were cheaper here in the UK, while three were less in the US.
Stagnant supply, together with surging demand, puts upward pressure on prices. The rising demand for housing over several decades is mainly the result of rising real incomes and, to a lesser extent, population growth. Mortgage interest rates also affect demand.
Is 3000 pounds a good salary in UK? ›
If you consider that people earning £2,500 to £3,000 gross per month (which equates to a gross salary of around £40K per annum) are thought to be getting a decent wage, then yes. Those earning a gross salary of £3,300 to £4,000 per month, are on a good salary by UK standards.
Why is UK so expensive to live? ›
As the UK is a large net importer of goods (including energy), these global factors affected consumer prices in the UK. While global factors were the original drivers of high inflation, price rises in many areas of the domestic economy have also accelerated.
Why choose UK over USA? ›
Why UK is better than USA/Canada/Australia? The UK is a global leader in research and education. UK has more universities than any other country. It has the top academic facilities and instructor, as well as the most up-to-date technology, equipment, and resources.
Is education better in UK or USA? ›
The UK is home to some of the world's most prestigious universities that rank higher than US institutions. In the 2024 QS World University Rankings, four UK universities feature in the top 10, compared to four from the US.
Is US or UK better for doctors? ›
According to several surveys conducted, junior doctors in the US work twice as much per week as they do in the UK. The starting salary for doctors in the UK is £28K, and the average salary is around £66K per year. Junior doctors work an average of 45 hours per week.
Are groceries cheaper in UK than US? ›
Excluding tax, our UK grocery trip would have totaled £21.48, or $25.83, while in the US, we would have spent $38.40 (£31.91) for the items. It means that shopping in the US store would cost us almost 50% more than in the UK store for the items on our list.
Is the UK a good place to live as an American? ›
Guide to Moving Abroad to the UK From the US
The United Kingdom is one of the top destinations for American expats. The two countries have long-standing historical, political, and cultural ties. As well, the United Kingdom offers Americans superb opportunities for work, travel, and study.
How much is rent in the UK? ›
The average rent in the UK is now £1,220 per month after 8.3% growth in the last year. The highest average rent in the UK is in London (£2,119) while the North East has the lowest monthly rent (£695).
