Moving to Scotland and the Cost of Living there
Moving to Scotland and the Cost of Living there
If you are moving to Scotland one of your biggest concerns will be how much it costs to live there. This article should help you get a good idea of how much everything costs in Scotland and explores everything from the cost of groceries to the cost of housing.
Average Salaries Scotland (Payscale Index 16 Nov 2010)
Edinburgh
Sr. Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer 37,055
Office Administrator 15,877
Software Developer 25,235
Information Technology (IT) Manager 37,636
Personal Assistant 23,077
Marketing Manager 25,466
Office Manager 21,720
Glasgow
Mechanical Engineer 25,167
Administrative / Office Manager 21,709
Sr. Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer 36,047
Operations Manager 31,862
Office Administrator 15,735
Retail Store Manager 22,301
Team Leader, General 21,161
The Careers Scotland Website is well worth a look to find out more about working in Scotland.
National Minimum Wage
Everyone in Scotland (and UK) is legally entitled to a minimum rate of pay: 3.64 per hour for ages 16-17; 4.92 per hour for ages 18-20 & 5.93 for workers aged 21 and over. (As of Oct 2010).
Health Costs & the NHS
The UK has a national health service (NHS) run by the government which is free for those living permanently in Scotland or who (I believe) have a visa which allows you to stay for at least a year (please check your own situation). However, not everything is free on the NHS and generally you must pay for medicinal prescriptions, dentists, opticians & chiropody, although there are some exemptions e.g. for children, expectant mothers, the elderly & low income families (dependent on circumstances, please check). Eye tests in Scotland are currently free.
You can choose to opt into private health care services like BUPA, but these can be expensive for those on lower salaries. Visit the NHS Scotland website to find out more about the NHS in Scotland & overseas visitors.
Taxation
If you are working for an employer in Scotland you must pay "Income Tax" and "National Insurance" on your salary which will be automatically deducted from your weekly or monthly salary by your employer. If you are new to Scotland you must apply to Her Majestys Revenues & Customs (HMRC) for a National Insurance number right away and give this to your new employer. For earnings between 0 - 37,400 you pay 20% Income Tax; earnings between 37,401 to 150,000 you pay 40% and for earnings over 150,000 it's 50%.
In respect of National Insurance, if you're employed you pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions. The rates are:
* if you earn more than 110 a week and up to 844 a week, you pay 11 per cent of the amount you earn between 110 and 844
* if you earn more than 844 a week, you also pay an extra 1 per cent of all your earnings over 844
You pay a lower rate if you're a member of your employer's contracted-out pension scheme.
Visit HMRC to find out more about paying tax in Scotland. There's also a good guide at www.direct.gov.uk
Renting a Property in Scotland
In Edinburgh, the cost of renting a basic 1 bedroom flat in a traditional Edinburgh tenement varies from around 450 to 550 depending on the quality of the accommodation and the location. Flats are generally cheapest in Gorgie and Leith and more expensive in more upmarket locations such as Morningside, Bruntsfield, Stockbridge, Comely Bank and the City Centre.
Aberdeen is the most expensive city to rent in and Dundee is the cheapest. Glasgow is a little cheaper than Edinburgh. Landlords will ask for a deposit and the 1st months rent in advance, so you will generally need around 1000 plus to secure a decent 1 bedroom rented property in Scotland. Leases are generally "Short Assured Tenancies" which usually give you security of tenure for 6 months and most roll over, after the initial 6 month period, on a month to month basis thereafter. (Although a short assured tenancy can be for longer).
Under a Short Assured Tenancy, you will be responsible for paying "council tax" which is around 110 a month for an average 1 bedroom flat, depending on area. You will also have to pay for gas and electricity which will be around 60 a month for a 1 bedroom flat, but could be less or more, depending on how many there are of you and how frugal you are!
Landlords in Scotland are generally responsible for all repairs to a property - so you will be saved that cost (except for any 'unreasonable' damage you've caused). To find out more about renting in Scotland or find a property to rent visit www.citylets.co.uk. If you want to find out more about leases in Scotland visit www.edinburghpropertyconsultancy.co.uk
Sharing a Flat or House
Sharing a flat or house is very popular in Scotland and a room generally costs in the region of 300 to 400 a month, but can be more. Anything cheaper is not going to be great. Sharing does allow you to share the payment of council tax and the utility bills. To find a flat share try www.easyroommate.com
Buying a Property
Buying a property in Scotland is fairly straightforward, although it is more difficult to qualify for a mortgage at the moment and you will need a fairly hefty deposit, although better deals are creeping back into the market. Best advice if you're thinking of buying in Scotland, is to visit the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) in George Street, Edinburgh, who provide free solicitor and mortgage advisor drop in sessions (www.espc.com). The ESPC and it's regional centres also list the majority of property for sale in Scotland.
The average cost of a decent 1 bedroom flat in Edinburgh is around 100,000 to 150,000 dependent on the area. Really good family homes tend to be sought after and can command good prices. At the moment, the property market in Scotland is very sluggish, so it's very much a buyers market.
Food Prices
This is hard to quantify as it really depends on the individual, but here's a few prices of basic food items in Scotland:
Sliced White Sandwich Loaf 1.10
6 Pack Golden Delicious Apples 1.50
1 pint Whole Milk 0.45
Box of 6 Medium Free Range Eggs 1.46
500g Fresh British Beef Mince 1.64
500g Fresh Beef Fillet Steak 11.49
1.5kg Fresh Whole Chicken 4.00
Obviously the list is endless, but if you want to check out Scottish food prices further visit www.mysupermarket.co.uk
Transport in Scotland
Scotland has excellent public transport, which is generally very affordable, especially if you book in advance. The cost of buying a new car is relatively comparable to the rest of Europe, although it may be a little more expensive. Second hand cars are abundant and by shopping around there are some bargains to be had. The cost of petrol in the UK is around the 1.30 per litre mark as of Feb 2011 which is very expensive. Check out www.petrolprices.co.uk for more information.
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