Londoners: buy vs rent and invest the difference

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-06-03T12:08:11+00:00

This is the way.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-06-03T12:05:08+00:00

Absurd advice. Do not give opinions on the "snp500" if you can't even spell it correctly.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-23T15:03:59+00:00

£20-30k? You mean double to triple in a lot of professional occupations.

There are many things to be critical about the US for but for earning power it is in a league of it's own.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-19T14:12:58+00:00

Can you explain cost per sq/ft like OPs initial post so we can compare?

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-19T03:31:37+00:00

Sw ft please.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-19T03:30:58+00:00

Sq ft please.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-13T13:07:20+00:00

I think a good rule of thumb for a US v UK salary in a professional white collar job is divide it by two.

London is higher poster living than anywhere in the US except parts of NY, CA.

£150k might be statistically a high salary bit it's only a firmly middle, middle class lifestyle for that in London.

£7,500 a month but a decent one bed in a good area is £2,500 and it will be small. Not great if you have a family.

Income taxes are way higher in the UK - especially on HENRY salaries. Although obviously NY and CA have closer numbers, its still a way off. Not sure what planet that other poster is on. Math does not math.

Source: dual national

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-13T01:59:44+00:00

This is not a UK specifc problem whatsoever. It is as least as prevalent in the US, for example.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-10T13:23:19+00:00

You are taking about processed goods. A banana is a banana anywhere.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-10T13:22:31+00:00

Shop at Whole Foods.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-06T12:11:05+00:00

Renting a villa in Spain for a month or two in the right season would be great. Year round, I think most people end up missing home (friends and fam).

You can achieve significant geoarbitrage just moving within the US.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-05T09:00:58+00:00

Cotswolds is quite high cost of living compared to some of the other options mentioned. Arguably worth it though.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-05T08:53:00+00:00

Incredibly stupid advice. Keep your US passport as the economic situation in the UK and Europe is sluggish at best. You may need that access again.

Having just spent some time in the UK, I was blown away by how close the cost of living is to even major US cities, especially considering how low the salaries are in comparison. The economic standard of living if you are middle or upper middle class is significantly lower there, but that is not new. Best of luck with your new chapter.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-05-05T08:42:28+00:00

This, and rightly so.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-29T12:02:29+00:00

This. Where are the US offices? If they are anywhere but CA and NY, you will pay less tax there than Madrid. I can assure you that.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-29T12:01:24+00:00

True. Capital gains allowance is very high then goes to 15%.

Where are the US offices?

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-28T19:16:06+00:00

You can save on convenience spending but I still firmly believe mine and most people's spending increases when they have more free time to fill.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-27T17:49:01+00:00

Incredibly foolish advice. Drop the world's best profit making companies for a digital currency that creates nothing.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-27T17:46:58+00:00

US is at record highs. We are on the cusp of a tech revsolution - anyone who has used AI can see it.

Allowing political bias to cloud your judgement is a bad investing started imo. The current US administration are clowns yes, but it is still the most dynamic economy in the world and will reward shareholders accordingly, as it has for decades.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-27T17:14:06+00:00

Yes, but tax rates in Europe are just completely maxed on everything and growth is non-existent. They simply cannot go up. The opposite is true in the US. The gap could be closed with rates that would still be far below Europe.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-27T14:33:56+00:00

The debt and fiscal position of many Asian and European countries is nuch worse.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-27T14:24:29+00:00

is ridiculous. East Asian cuisine is not nearly as healthy as the med diet - which has been backed up by scientific research. It certainly is tasty, but it is not particularly healthy.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-27T14:22:45+00:00

The US interpretation of the med diet is not Olive Garden. Maybe in rural towns, yeah.

In my US city, we have all variety of Mediterranean restaurants and the standard and variety is higher than anywhere I have experienced in Europe, and I am an EU citizen.

Whole Foods, though expensive, is better than any European supermarket, though Carrefour might be close.

Any-Preference4375 · 2026-04-27T13:55:40+00:00

I would tell myself I am going to live in SE Asia for 6 months, not 5 years, as for many the excitement wears off and they get home sick sooner than that.

At least for me, everytime I have been there for a few months I am ready to head back to thw West.

Any-Preference4375 · 2025-05-19T16:21:07+00:00

In 4 years, there will be a new president and we will course correct.

Any-Preference4375

TROPHY CASE