Let's say I was living in London for 2-3 months, starting in a couple weeks

[Asher]

Originally posted by Zealot
It's likely that your salary isn't all spectacular because you're being invited to come over to be cheaper than hiring a brit or someone living here already.

That's the entire business model of my company -- nearshoring. They hire Canadian consultants because the cost of living is so much lower that the raw salaries are lower.

But considering it's still close to six figures with only a couple years into it, it's still pricey. It's just less pricey than hiring someone from London.

Still, I bet that after those 2-3 months you may be invited to stay, and if not, it may be worthwhile for you to stay here for a few years cashing in. As soon as you can have in your CV that you worked for an Investment Bank in Canary Warf, you're bound to be contacted for other IBs. My problem is that I've never worked for one and they all ask previous experience in an IB. And that's where the money is, in Investment Banks.

I already have a couple years at IB from Wall St, I'm not sure the Canary Wharf stuff is any better.

I have no plans to live in the UK permanently. I think I'd go crazy.

[Asher]

Originally posted by LordShiva
Don't think of this opportunity in terms of teh marginal monetary benefit. View it more as a low-risk way to experience a new place, gain a different kind of work experience, and earn a valuable bullet point for your resume.

I'm mostly looking at it from a personal perspective -- chance to live somewhere else for a while.

It's not a totally new kind of work experience...it's what I did at the Wall St investment bank meets what I did at IBM.

So monetarily and career-wise it's not a big deal for me. I'm mostly just curious about living in a country full of hoodlums, drunks, and chavs.

[-Jrabbit]

Sound awesome, Asher. It's a temp assignment, so very low risk, and the housing/travel accommodations are sweet. If the SO is cool with it, you're good to go.

And just think how much better-informed your dissing of the Euros will become!

[Zealot]

I moved in 48 hours after getting a phone call saying that I had Sony Computer Entertainment Europe interested in having an interview with me, and if I wanted to attend it in London. The interview was on a Friday, the phone call on the Monday and I travelled on Wednesday so that I could get to know the city on Thursday.

Living abroad is much simpler than many think, and that's why I tell everybody that they should go for it if they can get a salary.
You're getting a paid flat and doing a job that is very much on demand. Say bye bye to mommy and cash in for a few years, that's my advice.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Zealot
I moved in 48 hours after getting a phone call saying that I had Sony Computer Entertainment Europe interested in having an interview with me, and if I wanted to attend it in London. The interview was on a Friday, the phone call on the Monday and I travelled on Wednesday so that I could get to know the city on Thursday.

Living abroad is much simpler than many think, and that's why I tell everybody that they should go for it if they can get a salary.
You're getting a paid flat and doing a job that is very much on demand. Say bye bye to mommy and cash in for a few years, that's my advice.

Mommy already lives a 4 hour flight away from Toronto.

I'm not sure I'd make a lot more money in London than Toronto. I'm thinking best case is I'll make the same in real terms.

The taxes in the UK are far too steep for me.

[Lord Avalon]

In 3 months hockey season will have started. How much will it cost to get NHL over there?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Lord Avalon
In 3 months hockey season will have started. How much will it cost to get NHL over there?

Already got that covered, I've got a Slingbox and NHL centre ice in Canada.

I was actually hoping for an NHL game in the UK like last year, but this year the NHL games are in the Czech Republic (#2 in gay porn production to Russia) and Sweden.

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Asher
I'm not sure I'd make a lot more money in London than Toronto. I'm thinking best case is I'll make the same in real terms.

The taxes in the UK are far too steep for me.

I doubt that very very much.
But come on over, live and work here for a while, and we'll then see who's right.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Zealot


I doubt that very very much.
But come on over, live and work here for a while, and we'll then see who's right.

I just do not follow your logic. Why would living in one of the most expensive cities in the world make me more money than living in one of the cheaper cities in the world when I work for the same companies regardless?

[Zealot]

Originally posted by Asher


I just do not follow your logic. Why would living in one of the most expensive cities in the world make me more money than living in one of the cheaper cities in the world when I work for the same companies regardless?

Have a look on Totaljobs. Do a quick search on C++ and in London. Check the insane offers.
My point is, you have one of the best paid professions in IT in London. There are lots of great salaries to be had by a small elite of workers. You seem to have the opportunity of being one of them.
So, if you're not planning to retire here, and not being interested in owning your own home here, get the largest ammount of savings that you can, and have a big pocket money when you decide that it's time to go back to Canada.
It's basic economics. When the demand is big, the prices go up. So do salaries.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Zealot
Have a look on Totaljobs. Do a quick search on C++ and in London. Check the insane offers.
My point is, you have one of the best paid professions in IT in London. There are lots of great salaries to be had by a small elite of workers. You seem to have the opportunity of being one of them.

The salaries are insane because the cost of living is insane.

I know lots of investment bank developers in London and New York because I've worked with them both over the past several years. The tax rates in the UK are very high compared to the US and Canada, the cost of living is extremely high compared to Canada. All of the analysis I've seen and all of the people in London/NY I've talked to indicate that the overall income is actually lower in those cities for most people.

I know good software developers get paid extremely well in the financial services industry, the problem is this is true everywhere -- and London's costs are just very high.

[Dauphin]

Are you including National Insurance? As a non-UK national (and non-permanent resident) you could probably get the National Insurance back. It's 11% on the first ~$80,000 or so.

[Asher]

I've no idea. I haven't looked into UK income tax as I won't be paying any.

[Dauphin]

I meant in relation to your last post about take home pay comparisons. Circumstances for you may not apply to them (or vice versa)

The tax rates in the UK are very high compared to the US and Canada

All of the analysis I've seen and all of the people in London/NY I've talked to indicate that the overall income is actually lower in those cities for most people.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Dauphin
I meant in relation to your last post about take home pay comparisons. Circumstances for you may not apply to them (or vice versa)

The tax rates in the UK are very high compared to the US and Canada

All of the analysis I've seen and all of the people in London/NY I've talked to indicate that the overall income is actually lower in those cities for most people.

So if I move to London and become a resident I'm not covered by health care there as part of my income tax?

But I'm not covered by Canadian health care either in that case...