I’m considering a move from New York to London. I’ve lived in New York for almost 6 years and do love many aspects of the city. I have a great friend group and am a 2 hour flight from most family.
I’ve always wanted to live abroad and would like to take the chance while I’m still young (I’m 28). My company is dual headquarter in NYC and London and I currently have a US salary of $200,000.
Some reasons I’m thinking about leaving:
Dating culture - NYC dating culture is terrible and few seem open to committed relationships as there as so many options and many people seem interested in non-monogamy. I’m not sure how different this is in London. Im a lesbian so I’d be curious about the dating scene from your perspective, gay or straight.
Cost - New York is obviously incredibly expensive for housing costs even though I have a high salary. To have an apartment with decent amenities you have to pay a lot, which I do. Healthcare costs are still quite high despite having insurance. Im not sure if I would be taking a pay cut if I moved, but I know my salary would go very far in London.
Pace of Life - New York is very loud and busy. It is hard to find a moment of quiet once you leave your home.
Travel - I want to travel the world and it is very expensive and cumbersome to do so from New York.
Some reasons I’d be hesitant to leave:
Friends and Family - I have some friends in London who are well connected socially and I know I wouldn’t be totally alone, but is it easy to make friends in London? I’m very social and like the social atmosphere in New York.
Pace of Life - I wonder if London would be too slow for me. Keep in mind, after living in New York I find even San Francisco, LA, and Chicago incredibly slow and boring.
Dating culture - is it just as shitty as NYC?
Any advice or insights appreciated. Thank you all!
I’m American, gay and have lived in London for 6 years.
I can’t speak first hand to the dating scene as I’ve always been in a relationship here but from what I’ve heard from my lesbian friends it’s incredibly difficult. London is a transient city (40% of the population is foreign born) so people come and go all the time. And in NYC where I feel the mentality is to stay in the city as long as possible, in London the goal for most Brits is to eventually own a house in a leafy suburb or commuter village.
Regarding cost you will almost certainly take a pay cut. Most of my American friends that have been transferred have had this happen. That said, NYC is significantly more expensive for rent, food (groceries and eating out), travel and healthcare. You’ll save less in real money, but your take home will be less consumed by the COL.
Pace of life is slower. London is twice the size of NYC geographically which the same population. It’s less dense and outside of a few neighbourhoods in central, it feels slower and calmer. There’s way more parks and most people live in actual houses that split into flats. That said, London is still a global city and affords all that has to offer. Food, culture, history, nightlife are comparable to NYC if not better. It just won’t be exactly on your doorstep or 24/7.
Travel. London wins hands down. With 6 airports + Eurostar it’s incredibly easy to travel abroad and London is in a much better location geographically. I typically travel internationally 5-6 times a year and that doesn’t seem too uncommon here (at least amongst immigrants/expats).
Overall I love it here and don’t see myself moving back to the US. I think NYC is a better city in your 20s but 30s+ London is hands down.
Agree with everything you said except I’m not sure I agree with the nightlife being on par with New York. Definitely some great clubs and venues that go late and bring in great acts. but the majority of bars and pubs close by midnight or 2 am if you’re lucky.
OP, If hanging out at bars with your friends past midnight is part of the “fast pace” you desire, London might leave something to be desired.
I’m terms of nightlife I’m pretty over staying out past 2 anyways…definitely not a deciding factor for me. By fast pace I mean just the general speed and expediency of things.
Horses for courses I guess. It really comes down to a person’s expectations and tailoring their night out in London. Whereas in NYC where essentially every nighttime establishment closes as 4am. In London it really comes down to type of place and location.
Pubs can be anywhere from 11pm to 2am. Bars anywhere from 12am to 3am. Clubs almost always go from 4am to 6am (and sometimes longer). In London you just have to do a bit more homework but I find the club scene better while the late night cocktail lounge bar scene to be lacking.
Yeah, totally. I love to club but it started to grate on me that the only late night option is to go to the club. Or one of the stray pubs with a late liquor license.
Would you say London is more transient than NYC? I think a lot of people come to New York in their 20s for work then leave to smaller cities in the US.
I would say people come and go a quicker rate. Lots of Europeans/Aussies/Kiwis come for a few years to get their master’s or work a bit and then leave. It feels like the turnover is really high and it took me about 3 years before I felt I had a solid friend group.
Even going on 7 years here, most of my friends are other expats/immigrants. Most Brits have their friends from growing up or uni and aren’t interested in expanding it.