Why on earth is this country so expensive?

I just returned 2 weeks ago from Yankland, and its been on my mind ever since, that that place is so cheap compared to here. These examples show what I mean:

1. Full trolley (till overflowing) of shopping in USA supermarket costs $58.oo (£29.00 equivalent); here that could easily cost £100.00 and more. 3 times more expensive.
   
2. Bikes in dollars are much more expensive here, even taking into consideration taxes and shipping.
   
3. A Notary Public (who authorises documents, on production of your passport) costs $2.oo-$4.oo there and £50.oo-£100.oo here (25 times as much)!
   
   

A high-earning cousin of mine just visited from Afghanistan (yes, very high earning) and asked me "how do you live in this place?!". I'm really wondering.

USA has no NHS and although university education is no longer free over here it is still cheaper than in the US. Just two things to consider, I am sure there are others. The cost of life in total is more than just what you pay at the tills. Insurance e.t.c mean you end up paying for other things in differently ways. Not saying one is better than the other but it can be a bit more complicated to compare cost of living. Plus the grass is always seems greener. It's human nature. No doubt I am sure there are some things that are truly a rip off over here.

but think of the low crime levels, the general happiness of the population and the great weather!

get yourself a job in the city and you'll be lighting your cigarettes with £50 quid notes in next to no time !!

Tommy and pete......touche. Actually I DID used to live there, and went high-school there, but I wouldn't want to live there again. For me, the price of freedom-of-speech is worth more than anything, and its not allowed there. Even if they think it is.

Not the best time to try for jobs in the city. Any of those city lads just "let go" from their firms, will think you might be taking the mick.

A high-earning cousin of mine just visited from Afghanistan (yes, very high earning) and asked me "how do you live in this place?!".

ha!

i prepared to pay a bit extra in morrison's if it means no death penalty and free healthcare.

every lidl helps, pj

Keep in mind the strength of the dollar too. It's weak as piss.

Sucks for me as I earn US dollars. I have to divide my income by half. :(

it's expensive over here because things like utilities and other necessities are privatised and then badly run so the government has to intervene then subsidised by taxpayers, and at the same time shareholders have to be paid.

ooh you communist.

ooh you communist.

more of a disillusioned socialist

Generally higher tax burden here pays for all of the state provided benefits that the yanquis miss out on. Our crowded little island means that property prices and rents are high which has a knock on impact on prices of goods in shops. The American way of life has been created by a mountain of cheap debt that is now unravelling spectacularly.

There are other things to consider too. When I was in NYC visiting some friends they were impressed that we could take a two week holiday and amazed that I get six weeks off a year. They had a grand total of two weeks of work.

One thing though that really makes me love the the UK, is its openess and allowance for differences of political parties. Boring as that may seem, Screaming Lord Sutch is my hero for what he did to the British consciousness - made us laugh, while doing something serious. It is hardly seen or allowed anywhere else. Long may his spirit live. Just in case you don't/didn't know who he was..............

http://www.omrlp.com/
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_Lord_Sutch[/ame]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/371216.stm
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=77257827
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_Monster_Raving_Loony_Party#Sutch.27s_early_political_activity

On reflection, I take it all back. Eccentricity that is allowed and even applauded is something worth paying extra to live in a country for. No Life of Brian, no UK.

Apparently Iceland is a great place to live.

I'm yet to be convinced, whatever the Guardian / Observer says.

"The American way of life has been created by a mountain of cheap debt that is now unravelling spectacularly."

so you haven't noticed that happening here then? cheap debt (up to a few months ago) 100% interest only mortgages 5-6x earnings etc etc. it's going to be just as bad over here and our budget deficit is massive compared to other countries.

iceland? i don't think so:
http://www.moneyweek.com/file/47411/why-iceland-is-suffering-a-nasty-financial-hangover-.html

Apparently Iceland is a great place to live.

Mineral water on tap, free energy bills, proper fit women.

It's a nice place but the men are arrogant cunts and the price of consumables is horrendous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Most_Livable_Cities

Move to Vancouver.

USA has no NHS and although university education is no longer free over here it is still cheaper than in the US. Just two things to consider,
Did you know that the US government pays more per head of population on health care than our government despite them having a privatised health care system? Just goes to show that market forces don't work everywhere, despite what the Tories would have you believe.

The other huge distortion to US economy is the un-fugging believable amount of $ borrowed and stockpiled by foreign economies to buy their oil.

Lots of fun speculation about what might happen if the Euro ever became global exchange currency of choice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Most_Livable_Cities
Move to Vancouver.

"The Economist Intelligence Unit's livability ...report placed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver as the most livable city in the world... The survey said "In the current global political climate, it is no surprise that the most desirable destinations are those with a lower perceived threat of terrorism.""

I'm happy to be anywhere that the editors and readership of the Economist don't want to live.

And if they're seriously taking 'perceived' threat of terrorism into account as a variable, they need to HTFU.

'Why on earth is this country so expensive?'

there's one very simple answer.

because we put up with it. because the English will put up with anything.

"The Economist Intelligence Unit's livability ...report placed Vancouver, BC, Canada as the most livable city in the world... The survey said "In the current global political climate, it is no surprise that the most desirable destinations are those with a lower perceived threat of terrorism.""

I'm happy to be anywhere that the editors and readership of the Economist don't want to live.

And if they're seriously taking 'perceived' threat of terrorism into account as a variable, they need to HTFU.

i think the perceived threat of terrorism is a very minor part of the rankings. most of the weighting is based on more general standard of living measures - wealth, health, education, weather, infrastructure... you know.