US or UK

[JigaR Parekh]

All,

I need suggestion from you guys
I am working in Gujarat and got two good opertunity for overseas job
1) UK-London with pay 2500 pounds
2) US-NJ with pay 4500 $$

I am having 4+ years of java/j2ee experiance, so where should i go US or UK ??
If any body can provide me comparison of both in terms of leaving, growth etc. it would be great help to me for deciding

Thanks in advance

[Tim LeMaster]

I'm not sure what you consider good. New Jersey is one of the most expensive states to live in the United States.

rent.com had this to say - "with an overall cost of living 32% above the national average, and housing a whopping 73% above the average."

$4500/month after taxes and other things is probably $3000/month. Your rent is probably going to be at $1000/month or more. That leaves $2000/month for everything else - food, utilities, insurance, etc. In my opinion a software developer especially one with 4+ years of experience should not have to struggle to make ends meet. But if people keep taking jobs far below market value - the companies will keep getting richer and the people poorer.

According to CNN/Money the median house price in Newark is $369,500. In Bergen-Passaic it is $423,500. You would need 74,000 in Newark and 84000 in Bergen-Passaic to have 20% down on a house. If you managed to save 1K a month it would take 7 years to buy a house - by which time the houses would be more and it would take more like 10 years.

I made this much when I lived in Indiana and it was a fair wage for the location. I moved to Florida and needed to make alot more. I saw numbers that suggest New Jersey is 30% more expensive to live then were I'm at in Florida.

I know nothing about the UK but I have a feeling the London numbers aren't going to be much better.

[Shipra Verma]

If you are single your expenses will be lower compared to what is mentioned above . see what you prefer doing money should not be the only factor .

[Mark Fletcher]

2500 UKP is roughly 5000 USD.

Id compare cost of living in NJ to that of London. That will be the deciding factor.

[Don Stadler]

London is one of the most expensive places to live on earth right now. �30,000 a year is very little for London. You will probably have to share a flat at that salary.

Is it doable? Probably. You will probably net �1800 a month. Monthly rent will be a minimum of maybe �500 a month including council tax, transport another �180 or so, food maybe �500, utilities �100. That is if you eat at home. London has the most expensive restaurants and pubs on earth so don't expect to eat out on that too much.

[Michael McHugh]

Surely that figure for London must be after tax? If not, it's quite low for someone with your experience. I've only 18 months experience and I'm on more than that. You can get a rough idea of current salaries based on your skill set from www.itjobswatch.co.uk.

London is a fantastic city though, and I'd whole heartedly recommend it.

[Aksh Shah]

Hi Ranchers,

I've come across many consultants who are ready to process my H1B. But I would prefer going to UK than USA...Can anyone please let me know the consultants' list for UK.

Cheers!
Aksh

[hanumanth reddy]

email your CV to [email protected] form UK workpermit processing
[ February 05, 2007: Message edited by: hanumanth reddy ]