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[Top Boss]

Many new people to the UK must be aware of callous employers who will try and pay them the minimum possible.

It is vital that you check what your rates should be and do not work for anything less.  While many may be desperate after coming to the UK, cheap labour has the potential to ruin the employment market for us all.

[Tammy]

Not sure I share the politics but I do think that people need to get advice with what the going rate is especially if they are new to the country.  But it would also apply to people moving to London for the first time.  And people moving into a new career.  In my experience if you do not get your salary pitched right at the outset you pretty much never catch up since you get caught in the salary budget trap and also once they have you the get comfortable and are not as keen as before they get you to join.

[Richard - Premier Recruitment]

Yes I agree and you can check this link for the National Minimum wage -

http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/pay/national-minimum-wage/index.html

[WebSurfer]

Heh, the minimum wage in the UK is higher than in the USA.

Here in the U.S the federal is only a mere $5.15 USD, however most states have their own minimum wage which is a bit higher. But apparently $8.50 is the highest, although Santa Fe a city in New Mexico, has $9.50, which is the highest minimum wage in the whole country, and still does not beat the U.K's.

Out of curiousity, what's the average salary there, and the cost of living for let's say a single person?

[freeform]

There's huge variation - probably just like the States

When I relocated to Northern Ireland, my monthly rent that just about covered a 1 bed apartment suddenly got me a 3 bed flat overlooking the river. ?15k is nothing in London terms but is a comfortable graduate salary around these parts.

Having said all that, price of housing aside, costs are becoming more equal across the country in my opinion.

[Serious]

I was reading a thread about living in London on a salary of ?17k - clearly it is possible but it did seem a bit tight - no money for any extras.  Now the upside of London is that there is still so much you can do for free - parks (summer of course), museums, galleries etc and still frequently free (unless you go for the special exhibitions).

Whereas I think groceries are broadly similarly priced across the UK in the main chains (local stores can vary) things like eating out, accommodation, entertainment are vastly different.  But as with a lot of things, if you know where to go things can be a lot cheaper.

[Richard - Premier Recruitment]

I was reading a thread about living in London on a salary of ?17k - clearly it is possible but it did seem a bit tight - no money for any extras.  Now the upside of London is that there is still so much you can do for free - parks (summer of course), museums, galleries etc and still frequently free (unless you go for the special exhibitions).

Whereas I think groceries are broadly similarly priced across the UK in the main chains (local stores can vary) things like eating out, accommodation, entertainment are vastly different.  But as with a lot of things, if you know where to go things can be a lot cheaper.

Yes I would say you can live ok on a salary of ?17k in London but you will most probably need to share accommodation and live in zone 3-5 for that.