[Sioned]

Originally Posted by hiding57 Their taxes are a LOT more than 30%.

I've lived a long time in both countries. The cost of living is cheaper in the USA. The current exchange rate makes Britain unbelievably expensive for Americans. Basic rate of tax in the UK was 22% for last year, 20% for this tax year for the first $70,000. The allowances are quite generous - about $10,000 for an individual. You do get child benefit of about $36 a week for first child and $24 a week for second and subsequent children. There are good things about both countries. They are very different systems, I still cannot decide which is cheaper overall. If you have good health insurance, USA probably is. I am glad that we were living in Britain when my eldest child had to be hospitalized with asthma. I don't know how people cope without health insurance as if being sick or having a sick relative isn't stressful enough without worrying about how you will pay for the treatment.