From recent graduates to wealthy professionals, many Britons are now considering moving abroad.
For many, the motivation is obvious: money.
More than half of UK workers (52%) are considering leaving the UK for better job opportunities abroad, according to UK HR website Employers News.
Others are seeking affordable housing and lower taxes, the report said, citing research from London-based financial services firm Prograd.
But thinking about moving abroad and actually doing it are completely different things, especially for parents, who have to consider whether things are greener abroad – with the whole family in mind.
EU countries are the best options for Brits looking to leave the UK, with Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Spain and Finland at the top of the list, according to expatriate insurer Williams Russell.
But the United States – often referred to as Britain’s “cousin” – ranked last among 28 countries, weighed down by high childcare costs and long working hours.
According to Williams Russell, the average monthly rent for a three-bedroom apartment in the United States is $2,793, which is higher than every country on the list except Switzerland ($3,281) and Ireland ($2,830).
The company relied on user-generated data site Numbeo to determine average rents across the country, estimating that Britons living in the United States pay around 34% more to rent than living in their home country.
The United States also takes a hit for being the only country on the list without federally mandated paid maternity and paternity leave.
However, 13 states and the District of Columbia already have paid family leave laws, including New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Colorado, delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island Washington state, according to the nonprofit Bipartisan Policy Center.
Workers may also want to check their employment benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, nearly 40% of management and professional occupations will be entitled to paid family leave by 2023.
British Universities vs. American Universities
British families with older children may be influenced by the number of top universities in the US. sum.
However, Tuition fees at American universities are usually higher This is higher than in the UK, according to education company Kings Education.
Tuition fees for UK citizens are capped at £9,250 (US$15,950) per year. In contrast, the cost of attending college in the United States varies from school to school. In general, tuition at private colleges is usually more expensive than at public colleges, and tuition for out-of-state students is also higher than for in-state students.
For Brits looking to attend university in the United States, “International students can cost up to $45,000 per year to study for a bachelor’s degree at a public university, while a year at some private universities can cost up to $55,000 or more,” to King educate.
The cost of college in the United States has risen sharply over the past few decades, a trend that has slowed since the pandemic.
Tuition and living expenses at eight schools, including New York University, Tufts, Brown and Yale, are approaching the $100,000 per year mark; however, families often find ways to pay less.