When people first decide to emigrate they often labour over the buying and moving costs but many don’t always consider the day-to-day living expenses. This can make quite a difference to your lifestyle – to where you live and how you live.

Before you set out on your exciting journey, spend some time investigating how much things cost. You should consider the following:

Food In many countries food can be costly in the main cities or tourist areas; however, it is usually much cheaper in more rural areas. And of course, you won’t always be able to get the same foods you are used to in the UK. Thankfully, there are various internet companies that will ship British food all over the world, so you need not go without your special brand of baked beans or other favourites which may be difficult to obtain locally.

Utilities
The costs will vary depending on the size of your home, the number of inhabitants and where you are located. Many countries have less expensive rates, although several charge more than you might expect. For example, keeping a home warm in Italy during the winter is very expensive due to high rates and poor insulation. If you live in Cyprus where the summers are extremely hot, you will find your air-conditioning bills for the summer can be a shock.

Water bills overseas can run high too. In many hot countries, water is classed as ‘liquid gold’ and as a result, most homes are on a meter. If you have a swimming pool, you
need to bear in mind that during the hot months you will have to keep it topped up regularly due to evaporation and this can be quite costly. Taking an average sized swimming pool, your top up can be as much as one to two metric tons a week. Some countries allow you to top up your pool using your own water supply (which you then pay for via your meter), others insist on you booking a water tanker to do the job.

Remember too, that not all countries have mains gas and rely on bottled gas for cooking and heating. Large bottles have to be delivered, so bear that in mind too. It is a good idea to have one or two spare cylinders so you don’t run out – especially during the colder months if you are relying on bottled gas for your heating.

Health care
EU countries have a state health care system that residents can use and that EU visitors can access for emergency health care. For this, you need to arm yourself with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Otherwise you may need to pay for healthcare and this can prove very expensive. In America, policies start at $500/month. It is essential to check this out before committing yourself, as this can be a massive cost that you may not have budgeted for.

Transportation
Each and every country has a different transport scheme (or else they may not have one at all)) and costs vary tremendously. In Johannesburg, South Africa, for instance, there is virtually no public transport system at all. The cost of running and maintaining a car varies drastically. Some countries require very little to keep a vehicle running, however island nations often have high costs due to import duties and expense.

Taxation
Many people that emigrate assume that taxation in other countries works similar to the UK. This is a big mistake. Different countries tax people on different things – some tax heavily on land, property, goods and services and/or roads. Before committing to a move, find out how the tax system works in the country you intend to emigrate to. This really does help to avoid any nasty surprises.

Culture
Aside from living and possibly working, you may want to see the sites – take in a movie, visit a museum, check out local attractions. Unlike the UK, many countries charge for arts and science museums. The ‘cost of living’ actually means the cost of living your life. There may well be some things that are non-negotiable but there may be other things that you can compromise on in order to exchange your present life for one that you perceive to be better. The point is that you need to do your sums and take all the factors into account before deciding exactly where you are going to put your roots down. Before moving overseas I cannot stress how important it is to prepare – so remember to start your emigration process off with a solid footing.