The US also has quite a spectrum of stores though. I suspect that the most expensive to cheapest is a much higher ratio than for the UK.
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Immigrating to the UK
- Thread starter AchmatK
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killerbyte
Expert Member
There are Americans on YT who live in the UK and have gone through the effort of comparing and the prices in the US are crazy compared to the UK. And they weren't shopping at whole foods.
Really? I've just got back from three weeks in the US and another three in the UK and both countries seemed to be more expensive compared to SA. I bought a rump cap/picanha from the butcher in the UK that probably cost me 3x as much as it would in SA, maybe more.
killerbyte
Expert Member
I wasn't including luxuries like steak. I don't eat steak that often because I like to meal prep.
When I buy steak for braais I do not include it in my monthly food bill, that comes out of my spending money.
Steak is an expensive cut of meat in the UK, but then I didn't buy it all that much in SA either, so its pretty much a non-issue for me.
But I would argue that you also need to look at costs differently in the UK...
I earn 3x what I did in SA. I can get a 1KG rump for 20 pounds so that's R470 per kilo, but because I earn so much I consider it to rather be R156 per kg.
gregmcc
Honorary Master
You should try out the matured fillet steak from Lidl. Very decently priced and on par with any steak from SA.
If food costs are identical, apart from steak, then why would I take anything else into account? And why are so many people in the UK complaining how expensive everything is?
I'm not alone in thinking my state pension isn’t going to cut it on its own.
EDIT: fwiw the majority of shopping I do in SA, UK, and US is done with my Wise card so I'm constantly being reminded what things cost in a single, in my case gbp, currency.
Sinbad
Honorary Master
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Because things have increased by 20-30% in the last couple of years and salaries have not. People here aren't used to standard of living being eroded like that.
killerbyte
Expert Member
Agreed.
My GF was here in July and while we were grocery shopping she was checking prices from Checkers & PnP. Numerous items in the UK are cheaper than in SA even at R23 to the Pound.
Brits are complaining because they have never seen real inflation.
Compared to SA this place is the land of milk and honey and the living is easy.
A loaf of Albany white bread in SA is currently R20 per 700g loaf, thats 85p at today's exchange rate.
I pay 75p for an 800g loaf of Toastie bread at Aldi (85p at Sainsbury's), and I would say the quality is comparable to Albany.
killerbyte
Expert Member
I would add this...
I would rather pay £20 per KG for a rump steak and know that my GF can walk into the town centre alone and feel relatively safe vs the need for her to carry a pistol everywhere she goes in SA.
I would rather pay £20 per KG for a rump steak and know that my GF can walk into the town centre alone and feel relatively safe vs the need for her to carry a pistol everywhere she goes in SA.
In other words the cost of living in the UK has skyrocketed?
Your example, not mine, but I'm not sure where you shop in SA because I brought bread today. It's under R17 a loaf which makes it 72p.
The UK is safer in general but my missus has never felt the need to carry a gun and if I'm being honest I can't remember the last time I carried mine to anyplace other than the range.
Sinbad
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It has, yes. As has the cost in SA... Groceries here used to be cheaper than in SA (when I moved over)
Straight gbp to zar conversion? I don't remember that ever being the case. My gbp salary still goes further here than it would there... not as far as it used to though.
Dave
Honorary Master
A lot of the meat from Lidl is really good, the 21 day sirloin is also excellent.
Mephisto_Helix
Resident Postwhore
The food comments I can eye roll at but the safety thing is shyte. Another one of those 'its not bad because I've never been affected' people .....
Mephisto_Helix
Resident Postwhore
Lidl does have some fantastic meat. Had a pork shoulder from there, nice 1.7kg one, for like £7 on special and it was probably the best pork I've had for a while. Their lamb steaks and beef fillet is also outstanding
Hamish McPanji
Honorary Master
For me it's 90 days
So have until October to enter the country. BRP needs to be picked up within 10 days
Hamish McPanji
Honorary Master
My bro tried for a 10 year, and paid for it. They rejected, and gave him a 6 months. No refund on extortionate amount.
So you disagree that the UK is safer?
Ouch!
Yeah you need a very good reason for a 10 year. I visit once a year and even then I was not sure it would be a good enough reason. So always just went with a 6 month. It’s only 2k if they say no. Fortunately they always gave me a 6 month.
From what I recall the 10 year one is the only one that is more cost effective than just getting the annual one.