Moving to United Kingdom from Washington
What to Expect
Considering a move from Washington to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Washington to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 0.2% more expensive than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly £56,531 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 Washington and United Kingdom.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → £56,531
To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 11.9% less
Groceries
pay 27.3% less
Transportation
pay 37.0% more
Housing
pay 8.2% less
Childcare
pay 15.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 7.9% more
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 19% less than cities in Washington.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Washington to United Kingdom.
people moved from United States to United Kingdom · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Washington.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Washington across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Washington generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Washington 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Olympia | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) | 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) | 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) | 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) | 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) |
View all months
| Month | Olympia | London |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) | 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) | 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) |
| Mar | 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) | 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) |
| Apr | 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) | 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) |
| May | 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) | 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) |
| Jun | 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) | 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) |
| Jul | 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) |
| Aug | 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) | 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) |
| Sep | 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) | 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) | 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) |
| Nov | 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) | 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) |
| Dec | 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°C) | 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) |
National Weather Service
Met OfficeVisitor 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 holder visiting United Kingdom
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Washington?
United Kingdom and Washington are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?
Budget about £14,133 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 Washington and United Kingdom are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Washington?
United Kingdom performs significantly better than Washington across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Washington?
The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in.
What language do they speak in United Kingdom?
Both Washington and United Kingdom share the same official language: English.
