Did you know that 38% of under-35s in the UK and 1 in 3 in the Republic of Ireland are considering emigrating in the next five years? The biggest motivations behind these moves are a better quality of life and a lower cost of living.
So where can Brits earn the most while enjoying relatively low expenses? To find out, Instant Officeshave analysed the average salary for the top 10 most in-demand jobs vs the cost of living across different cities.
According to the British Expat Report for 2024:
- 532,000 Brits emigrated last year
- 38% of 25 to 34-year-olds want to leave the UK in the next five years
- 11% of 25 to 34-year-olds are considering moving right now
- 36% of 18 to 24-year-olds are also considering making the move, with 10% wanting to leave right now
The top reasons motivating Brits to move away are:
- Wanting a better quality of life (45%)
- The cost of living crisis (39%)
- The weather (37%)
Looking at the top 10 cities by economic power and the 10 most in-demand jobs by search volume, the US cities of Dallas and Seattle lead the way in terms of cost of living vs earnings. Chemical engineers in Tokyo take home the most cash, with the gap between their total cost of living and their salary being just 5%.
|
INDUSTRY |
CITY |
SALARY PER YEAR |
TOTAL COL (INCL. COA) |
TOTAL COL VS. SALARY |
TOTAL COL VS. SALARY % |
|
Chemical Engineer |
Tokyo |
£358,610 |
£19,698 |
£338,912 |
5% |
|
Architect |
Dallas |
£94,271 |
£27,429 |
£66,842 |
29% |
|
Pharmacist |
Dallas |
£93,505 |
£27,429 |
£66,075 |
29% |
|
Software Engineer |
Seattle |
£104,235 |
£33,362 |
£70,873 |
32% |
|
Psychologist |
Dallas |
£78,942 |
£27,429 |
£51,513 |
35% |
|
Mechanical Engineer |
Dallas |
£78,942 |
£27,429 |
£51,513 |
35% |
|
Nurse |
Dallas |
£74,344 |
£27,429 |
£46,915 |
37% |
|
Civil Engineer |
Seattle |
£83,541 |
£33,362 |
£50,179 |
40% |
|
Surveyor |
Seattle |
£51,351 |
£33,362 |
£17,989 |
65% |
|
Welder |
Dallas |
£41,388 |
£27,429 |
£13,958 |
66% |
In contrast, London makes the most appearances on the “worst cities” list, with the highest total cost of living vs the lowest salaries for most of the top professions.
So, what can expats expect when relocating to one of these top-paying cities? Both Dallas and Seattle have a high quality of life index, a moderate safety index and a very high climate index. Both cities also rank well in terms of healthcare and purchasingpower. However, Seattle has a high traffic commute time index and Dallas has a moderate pollution index.
According to Expat Insider 2024, the USA is ranked 22ndin the Working Abroad Index and has some great careerprospects. 67% of respondents say that the local business culture supports flexibility, and 65% say they are happy in their job. However, expats rank the USA 46th out of 53 countries when it comes to quality of life, citing expensive healthcare and safety concerns. Most expats also agree that it can be difficult to settle in and find friends in a US city.
While taking home a substantial paycheck is a great benefit, it’s important to do your research before moving to one of these top-paying cities, so you can decide whether a higher salary will be worth the lack of other factors.
Images by
Mitchell Ng Liang an
Darwin Boaventura
Shraga Kopstein
Ishan @seefromthesky
