Two of the most popular destinations for expats, and a genuinely hard choice. Here is how United States and United Kingdom compare across the nine factors that shape life abroad, with an honest read on which suits which kind of mover.
United States vs United Kingdom at a glance
| Factor | United States | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | Very high | High ▲ |
| Property | Expensive ▲ | Very expensive |
| Healthcare | Excellent ▲ | Strong |
| Safety | Some concerns | Safe ▲ |
| Tax | Worldwide + citizenship-based tax | Worldwide; 4-yr tax break for new arrivals |
| Visa | H-1B lottery/green-card backlogs; no retiree visa | Skilled Worker; no retiree route ▲ |
| Climate | Mild (~12°C) (warmer) | Cool (~11°C) |
| English | Native / official | Native / official |
| Expat community | Established | Established |
▲ marks the stronger of the two on that factor. Where neither is marked, they are closely matched.
How far your money goes in United States · and in United Kingdom
Which should you choose?
Choose United States if you want: more affordable property and stronger healthcare.
Choose United Kingdom if you want: greater everyday safety, an easier visa or residency route and a lower cost of living.
Climate is a matter of taste rather than a score, so weigh that yourself: United States is Mild (~12°C), United Kingdom is Cool (~11°C).
Tax and visas compared
| Factor | United States | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Tax | Worldwide + citizenship-based tax | Worldwide; 4-yr tax break for new arrivals |
| Visa / residency | H-1B lottery/green-card backlogs; no retiree visa | Skilled Worker; no retiree route |
General information to compare destinations, not personal tax or immigration advice. Rules change, so check the current position before you commit.
Go deeper: United States guide · United States insurance quotes | United Kingdom guide · United Kingdom insurance quotes
How these scores are calculated
Each destination is scored from 0 to 100 on nine factors, then compared. “Stronger” marks the higher score on that factor. The healthcare score reflects the public system; private care, which many expats use, can differ, and first-hand expat ratings are coming from our own survey. Cost and property are world-comparable price levels.
Data sources: Expat Focus built dataset · Expat Focus climate reference · Expat Focus reference · World Bank ICP / PPP price level · World Bank ICP 2021 housing Price Level Index · World Bank health expenditure per capita + physicians per 1,000 · World Bank intentional homicide rate · World Bank international migrant stock. See our data and licences page.