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Tough call. Whilst you say the cost of living is high in the south east, that's really only housing? Most other costs are the same nationwide, and in fact a lot of things like fuel are actually cheapest in the south east where transport is less, and competition higher.
If you don't have to work in London, getting around is no worse than anywhere else. All cities have traffic issues, so moving to another city wouldn't help.
I took over a job many years ago from a guy who moved from Slough to Hull. It meant being mortgage-free. He found he was earning so much less that he came back here to do a few weeks whenever he could, so was adding travelling and accomodation to his outgoings. He was worse off without the mortgage, which sounds mad, but also not benefitting from the house price increases in the south east.
I'd look more towards working locally if it's the commute that's the issue. The home counties are as wealthy as London, but with none of the congestion, parking or other hassles.No offence to people in other parts of the UK, but I think you're struggling to get close to the same rates you can charge down here.
In employment I cant say but as self employed 1 man operative, depending on how you opperate you should be able to take home 20k+ and possible 30k if you are good and manage your business well in yorkshire.
Living costs are about 2/3 of that in london as I understand it.
David, do you mean Yorkshire as where we go on holiday: the unspoilt, rural backwaters?
Or, the main towns where living costs are higher, and there's just as much traffic.
Both - I live in leeds but about half of my work is the rural belt north of leeds - 1 mile from where I live in both directions their are 1 million houses and 120k semi's. That and the traffic in leeds is not as bad as london, birmingham or manchester by a long shot.
Thanks, David. Interesting to know.
My brother lives in Manchester. They are both lawyers, and salaries are around a third of what they'd make in a central London firm. Their house cost about a third of a London suburbs house, but the commute is easier.
Good point about there being expensive housing in all parts of the country if you look for them, and those houses need professional gardeners.