Moving to the UK from the US

Is it worth moving to the UK from the US? We certainly think so! So if you’re thinking of making the jump yourself, this article will tell you what you can expect from moving to, living and working in the land of history, the Royal Family, brilliant pop culture and of course great accents.

So grab a crumpet and a cup of tea while we give you all the information you’ll need – from freight costs, the cost of living, setting up finances, expat healthcare, and more.

If you’re ready to start your move, we can help. Simply fill in a few details in our form, and you’ll get bespoke shipping quotes from our trusted suppliers.

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Shipping your belongings from the US to the UK

Whether you’re making the big move to a bustling city like London, or a cottage in the countryside, you’re going to need to ship your belongings across the Atlantic ocean.

Moving your furniture abroad can be challenging, but we’ll try to make it a little easier by outlining the average costs you can expect. Let’s start with sea freight costs:

Sea freight costs from the US to the UK

We’ve calculated the average international shipping rates and durations for some of the most sought-after journeys from the US to the UK.

The rates are sourced from Freightos.com, and are based on the port-to-port transportation of a 20ft container of used furniture worth $53,620 – the typical value of the contents of a three-bedroom house (according to Admiral Insurance).

Last updated October 2024

Please note: these container shipping costs exclude typical add-ons such as door-to-door delivery, professional packing/unpacking and basic insurance cover. Our shipping suppliers normally incorporate these services into their prices, so expect some discrepancy between the rates given here and the quotes you receive. These estimates should be used as an indication only.

Air freight costs from the US to the UK

Though air freight can be up to 18 times more expensive than ocean freight, according to Transporteca, it’s occasionally a price worth paying. If speed is of the essence, and you’re willing to take the financial hit, here’s the average cost to move your effects to the UK by air.

These rates are sourced from iContainers.com and are based on the transportation of a 100 kg container measuring 100 cm high, and 100 cm in width of household goods. These prices were last updated in October 2024.

Cost of living in the UK

Now you know about sea and air freight costs, let’s take a look at how much living in the UK will cost.

According to Mercer’s 2024 Cost of Living Survey, which ranks the 227 most expensive cities in the world, here’s how the UK’s major cities ranked:

• London (8th)
• Dublin (41st)
• Edinburgh (53rd)
• Glasgow (68th)
• Birmingham (78th)
• Belfast (87th)

London has moved up to 8th in the last two years from 15th place, just behind New York City in 7th place. So if you’re used to life in the Big Apple, London won’t come as too much of a shock!

(Data comes from Numbeo.com and is correct as of October 2024)

VAT

VAT (value-added tax) is also a cost of living factor when you’re living in the UK. The 20% tax is included in almost all prices (although it’s sometimes added on top for some services), so you won’t get a nasty surprise at the checkout – but it’s there all the same.

The main exceptions to this tax include (most) food items and children’s clothes, but again, you won’t have to take it into account while shopping anyway.

There is no VAT in the US, but you’ll be familiar with the concept of sales tax, which is between 2.9% and 7.25%, depending on which state you’re in – unless you live in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon, which don’t have sales tax.

Set up your finances

British banking has come a long way and it’s easier than ever to set up a bank account when coming from the US. All you’ll typically need is two documents: a proof of address and some ID.

We’d advise doing this before the big move if you can, but you can also get it done after you arrive. If you’re wondering how you can provide proof of address before you arrive, you can ask your existing bank to change your address to your soon-to-be UK address. Hey presto, there’s your proof of address!

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The UK is home to countless beautiful landscapes like this one in Scotland

Expat healthcare

The UK’s universal healthcare system consistently ranks highly on a global stage, all while costing the taxpayer less than what people pay in many other countries, including the US. That said, funding issues and other pressures in recent years means that satisfaction with the NHS has fallen. But the UK still outranks the US for average life expectancy and many other health outcomes.

After you’ve paid the Immigration Health Surcharge included in your visa application, you’ll be able to use the National Health Service (NHS).

All of the services offered to everyone else in the UK will also be available to you, for free, apart from certain services including prescriptions, dental treatment and fertility treatments.

Can you use the state healthcare services?

You absolutely can, though you don’t have to. According to healthcare provider Equipsme, roughly 13% of the British public has private insurance in 2023, meaning that the rest of the population entrusts the NHS with their care.

Housing costs in the UK

If you’re chuffed (happy) with everything you’ve seen so far, and if you’re charmed enough by the quirks and foibles that you want to start a new life in London or Londonderry, you’ll want to know how much you can expect to pay for accommodation.

Check out the table below for a broad look at housing prices, then fill in this form to get shipping quotes from our professional suppliers, and get the ball rolling on this move of a lifetime.

Average house price in the UK: $590,633

Average apartment price in the UK: $250,135

Cheapest places to buy a house in the UK: Cumnock, Shildon, Greenock (average price £80,824)

The best neighborhoods in the UK

Best for families: Nottinghamshire

Known as the home of Robin Hood, this county in the East Midlands of the UK perhaps isn’t the most obvious best spot for raising kids, but we placed it here for a reason.

For example, Nottingham has more facilities for sports per person than anywhere in the whole of Europe – great for keeping your family active. It’s also one of the greenest urban areas in England, with beautiful locations including Sherwood Forest, which served as the inspiration for tales like Robin Hood.

The average house price in Nottinghamshire sits at roughly $260,500.

Best for students: Dalston

If you’re moving to the UK to study, you’ll most likely be landing in London – and that’s just spiffing (excellent).

Dalston, in the east of the city, has become a hipster hub over the past decade. This of course meant gentrification was inevitable – but despite the creeping onslaught of big brands, the multicultural area is still on the cutting edge when it comes to food, art, and general coolness.

It’s also one of the cheapest places to rent in London, has a fantastic nightlife, and is blessed with great transport links you can use to get to the city center in no time.

The average rent in Dalston is around $552 per week.

Best for romance: Bath

If you’re looking for romance in your move to the UK, then Bath is the place to go. It’s a UNESCO-listed city full of lush green spots for picnics, sunset views, and spas.

You can stroll through gorgeous Georgian architecture too, or see the famous Roman baths (where else do you think the name Bath came from?), or have a romantic spa day.

Rent is pretty similar to major cities such as London – with the average in Bath being around $3,070 per month.

But for the price you’ll generally find friendlier people, and it’s much quieter than a big city, so if that’s important to you, Bath is highly recommended.

Best for artists: Cliftonville

Voted Time Out’s coolest neighborhood in the UK, Cliftonville is a hub for artists, by the sea in Kent. The inspiration for the poem Margate Pier, this little corner is now bustling with ex-Londoners, artists, poets, and has an emerging LGBTQIA+ presence.

Cliftonville is for you if you want to live on the south-east coast of the UK, where there are sandy beaches, picturesque Victorian buildings, and an up-and-coming feeling, ideal for creatives.

It costs around $1,417 per month for rent in Cliftonville.

Public transport in the UK

Another cost to factor in when moving to the UK from the US is the cost of transport. While taxis are a bit cheaper on average than in the US, the rest of the UK’s transport is more expensive overall.

One way to think of it is that although you’ll be saving money on groceries, if you have to travel a lot to get to work, your cost of living could be similar to what you might spend in the US. If you’re planning on working from home, or you’ll be living near your workplace, it’s much less of a concern.

(Data comes from Numbeo.com and is correct as of October 2024)

Buses

Is there anything more iconic than the London red bus? For the privilege of riding one, you’ll spend $2.58 per trip (rising to $3.87 from 1 January 2025).

For traveling across the UK, you’ll need coach services such as National Express or Megabuses. This can cost you between $10 and $30 depending on the distance.

Trains

We once saw someone buy a flight ticket to Madrid to meet up with their friend instead of taking the train in the UK, where they both lived. Trains in the UK can be very expensive,which means that it can sometimes be cheaper to fly within the UK (for example, from Edinburgh to Bournemouth).

You can save money on UK train fares by booking well in advance. If you’re eligible for a railcard (there are railcards for people travelling together, for over-60s, and a Network railcard for south-east England) you can quickly save back the cost of the railcard in lower fares.

Trams

Trams aren’t that common in the UK, but there are some in areas including Nottingham, Sheffield, Manchester and Croydon. It’s a good way to explore those areas and because we’re in the 21st Century, you just tap your contactless card, and be on your merry way.

The London Underground

The famous London Underground (also known as the Tube) is the subway system of the capital city. It’s the quickest way to explore the city by far, although being sandwiched into the carriage and trying to understand all the different color lines can be confusing at first!

Some would say it's almost a rite of passage for living in London. A trip on the Tube starts at $2.32 (more for central London or peak-time journeys) and you can pay using contactless.

Driving in the UK: how does it compare?

We’d say for those moving to London or the bigger cities, driving isn’t necessary (almost half of London households don’t own a car). But it can be essential in smaller towns or more rural areas.

Along with car prices and insurance costs being quite high compared to the US, gas is roughly $1 more expensive per liter than in the US.

If you do plan to drive in London, be aware that there are charges for driving in central London (the congestion charge) and fees in certain areas for older cars with higher emissions. You’ll have to pay $19.29 for each day that you drive in the congestion charge zone, or $16 per day if your car doesn’t meet the standards for the designated low-emission zones.

Cost of bills in the UK

The UK has seen high inflation rates since late 2021 (although inflation now seems to have come under control). The steep rises in costs of energy and consumer goods (especially food) have been described as a “cost of living crisis”.

That said, looking at the table below, the difference between the UK and US bills is not dramatic, with higher energy prices making the biggest difference. Overall you can expect to pay $32 more per month in the UK on bills, than you would in the US on average.

Climate in the UK

The UK is known for the variability of its weather, which often changes depending on where you are and from one day to the next. It has a temperate maritime climate, which generally means mild winters, warm but not overly hot summers – and plenty of rain.

The east and south of the UK tends to be drier and warmer than the west and north, with more sun and less wind.

Technically, the UK gets 23.7 days of snow on average, though in reality much of this is on the tops of large hills and mountains. So don’t expect to see much snow in the UK, unless you’re moving to Scotland or a mountainous area, or if it’s an unusually snowy winter.

If you do experience some snowy weather in the UK (and particularly in London), stay under the covers. Because it doesn’t happen very often, barely a few inches of snow can cause traffic and public transport to grind to a halt.

Average temperature per month in the UK

Average rainfall per month in the UK (Jan 2024 – Dec 2024)

Working in the UK

The odds are that you’ll have a fantastic time working in the UK. The country was ranked 5th in the world for best places to work in 2024. The UK also ranked 4th globally for entrepreneurship and 11th for quality of life.

Working in the UK might feel quite different to working in the US though – workers’ rights are very different for example, as you’ll get much more generous minimum holiday allowances and maternity leave in the UK. Employees in the UK are legally entitled to at least 5.6 weeks of paid holiday leave, whereas the US has no legal holiday requirement.

Hybrid working conditions are generally more popular in the UK too, with around 44% of UK companies offering hybrid working, compared to 28% of US companies (according to a study from Workplace360).

The average salary in the UK varies according to where you live, with London attracting the highest salaries. These averages hide a lot of variation between sectors and (of course) the type of job.

Data from Statista, 2024

Work visas

If you plan to work in the UK, then you’ll need a visa for working in the UK.

If you’re a skilled worker who’s earned a job with one of the approved companies in the UK, you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa from three months before your start date.

The application fee will cost between £719 and £1,639 ($936-$2,133) depending on whether you plan to stay for up to three years or more than three years. The immigration healthcare surcharge is typically £1,035 ($1,347) per year (and £776, or around $1,000, a year for under-18s).

You’ll also need at least £1,270 ($1,653) to help support yourself when you arrive.

If you’re already in the UK and looking to extend or update a visa, the fees depend on how long you plan for. For example, if you extend up to three years it will cost £827 ($1,077) per person, but if you want more than three years it could cost up to £1,636 ($2,129) per person.

This makes it 15% more expensive to apply for the visa from inside the UK.

Make sure to get the following documents:

• A certificate of sponsorship from your employer
• Proof that you’re being paid the “appropriate rate” – usually at least £30,000 ($36,600) per year
• A bank statement showing you have had £1,270 in your account for 90 days before your application
• Evidence showing you are able and allowed to travel
• Your travel history over the past five years

After you’ve collected and prepared all of this information, be ready to visit a visa application center to get your fingerprints taken and your photo taken for a biometric residence permit.

100% of New York-based applicants for this visa get an answer within 30 days, but it doesn’t usually take that long. Half the people get a response within two days, and 99% get a reply within 15 days, according to the UK government.

Remember to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said that you would arrive in the UK.

Visas for studying in the UK

The UK is a corking (excellent) place to attend university. Not only do Oxford and Cambridge occupy the first and fifth spots respectively, in the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings 2024, but London alone has six institutions in the top 50.

To make your dream come true of studying in the UK, you need to apply for a Tier 4 general student visa. You can do this six months before your course is set to start (if outside the UK), and should get a decision within three weeks of sending off the application.

Before you apply, make sure you:

• Have been formally offered a place on a course at a UK university
• Can speak, read, write and understand English
• Have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself

And get together the following documents:

• A valid passport or other valid travel document
• Evidence you can support yourself and pay for your course
• Proof your legal guardian consents to you getting the visa, if you’re under 18
• Proof of your relationship with your legal guardian, if you’re under 18

It costs £490 ($638) to apply for this visa from outside the UK. You’ll also have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge, which is £776 ($1,010) per year for students and their dependants. Plus, of course, the fees for your chosen course (as well as your living costs in the UK).

If you’re successful, you can come over to the UK a month (or less) before your course starts.

Schools in the UK

The UK’s education system can offer you and your children top-quality state schools and private schools – though confusingly, the terms “public school” and “private school” both refer to private institutions in the UK.

Each child has to attend school from the ages of 5 to 16, and some form of education, either academic or vocational, is compulsory until age 18. The great majority of children attend state schools – around 92%.

A global education study by the OECD suggests that schools in England outperform the US (and the international average) in maths, and perform similarly to the US (but still better than the international average) in reading and science.

UCAS data showed an increase of 0.7% since 2023 in 18-year-olds applying to university Around 316,850 UK students applied to university or college this year, the second highest on record.

You can also read our guide explaining the British school system, if you want more information.

Best state school: Queen Elizabeth's School

This London-based boys’ school is consistently ranked among the most academically successful state schools in England. Founded in 1573 by Queen Elizabeth I, it prides itself on focusing not just on academic excellence, but on shaping the boys outside of class with its QE Flourish programme.

It does this through its extra-curricular activities like music, drama, sports, debating, chess and robotics, among many others.

But if that’s not enough then its academic excellence speaks for itself, with 47 students in 2023 receiving Oxbridge university offers.

Queen Elizabeth's School had the joint-highest number of pupils globally going to Cambridge University in 2016, with 52% of applicants offered places – pretty incredible for a state school.

Best private school: St Paul's School

St Paul’s School is more than 500 years old, and it’s long held a reputation for molding the children of some of the richest people in the UK. Their mission is to create individuals who will make a positive contribution in the world – with integrity, and kindness at the forefront.

The education it provides is top-notch, but it comes at a cost. As well as a £3,300 ($4,299) deposit, you can expect to pay up to £46,908 ($61,098) per year, and that doesn’t include all the extra admission fees.

UK emergency numbers

Here’s a comprehensive list of the emergency numbers you might need in the UK (keep them to hand just in case you can’t remember them):

Conclusion

Moving to the UK is a wonderful decision to make, and by this point you should have all the knowledge you need to make the jump to life across the pond.

You can look forward to excellent healthcare, education, and entertainment while living in the UK. Despite what you might have heard about British food, it’s (mostly) good. You’ll be able to enjoy traditional dishes like fish and chips and meat pies, as well as lots of multicultural options – in most cities you can get an Indian, Italian, Thai, Japanese or Chinese meal (and a lot more besides).

So if you’d like to get free quotes for shipping your belongings to your new home, fill in this form and start your exciting new life in the UK.