Moving to United Kingdom from Massachusetts

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Massachusetts to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Massachusetts to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 2.1% cheaper than Massachusetts. A $75,000 salary in Massachusetts would need to be roughly £51,627 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Massachusetts and United Kingdom.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 £51,627

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 13.9% less

Groceries

pay 29.1% less

Transportation

pay 51.9% more

Housing

pay 18.6% less

Childcare

pay 26.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 0.7556 GBP (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in United Kingdom cost about 25% less than cities in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts

Cambridge 85%
Worcester 73%

United Kingdom

Bath 63%
Slough 61%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Massachusetts to United Kingdom.

Moved in 2019
17,000 ↑ 3% vs 2018

people moved from United States to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

Top countries of origin for United Kingdom's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Massachusetts.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

MA
28.8%
GB
27.8%

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

MA
91.9%
GB
97.0%

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MA
4.7%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

MA
$87,892
GB
$54,100

Massachusetts generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

MA
79.0 yrs
GB
81.9 yrs

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Boston Rain: 43.8 in/yr (1112 mm)
59° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Boston London
Jan–Mar 40°/26°F (4°/-3°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/62°F (25°/17°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 51°/38°F (11°/3°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Boston London
Jan 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.4°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 39°/25°F (3.7°/-4.1°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 45°/31°F (7.4°/-0.5°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 56°/41°F (13.1°/4.8°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 66°/50°F (18.9°/9.9°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.3°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 81°/65°F (27.4°/18.6°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 80°/65°F (26.4°/18.1°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 72°/57°F (22.4°/14.1°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 61°/47°F (16.3°/8.1°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 51°/38°F (10.8°/3.3°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 41°/28°F (5.1°/-2.1°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and United Kingdom. To live, work, or study long-term in United Kingdom, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United Kingdom's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United Kingdom.
United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in United Kingdom than Massachusetts?

On average United Kingdom is about 9% less expensive than Massachusetts, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?

Budget about £12,907 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?

From major United Kingdom cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Massachusetts and United Kingdom are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Massachusetts?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Massachusetts across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Massachusetts?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 59°F in Boston. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Boston gets 43.8 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

Both Massachusetts and United Kingdom share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

GB
Population 6,547,629 67,791,400
Currency United States Dollar ($) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +44
Time zones 11 9
Emergency number 911 999