OpenTube

USA vs UK Cost of Living 2026 — Who Actually Has It Harder? (The Numbers Will Shock You)

BorderShift26

1,253 views

US vs GB Who REALLY has it harder in 2025?
Most people assume the US wins because American salaries are higher. But once you factor in healthcare, rent, groceries, childcare, and transportation — the answer gets complicated fast.
In this video, we compare the REAL cost of living between the USA and the UK using 2025 data across 7 categories. No fluff. No bias. Just the numbers.
We used Austin, Texas to represent the US and Manchester, UK to represent the UK — two major, growing cities that reflect what the average person actually earns and spends. Not New York. Not London. Real life.

📊 WHAT WE COMPARE IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ Salaries & Take-Home Pay (after tax)
✅ Housing & Rent — buying vs renting compared
✅ Healthcare — NHS vs US insurance costs
✅ Groceries & Food — supermarkets, dining out
✅ Transportation — car ownership vs public transit
✅ Childcare & University Education costs
✅ The Final Verdict — who wins and for who

4 Comments

@bitspersecond2006 2 weeks ago (edited)

I live in the UK currently as an American. I agree with MOST of what was said although there is more than raw dollars to the choice, British living is simpler and less stressful overall. However, on a pure money basis, your foreign exchange rate is just not right. You used 1.26 dollars to the british pound. That is simply not accurate. While exchange rates HAVE touched that, it is only 1-2 months out of the last 2 years. The remaining ~22 months are higher. I would use 1.35 instead. That increases relative British costs by about 7%. I still think the UK side is cheaper but this creates a much closer comparison. US side may come out ahead in groceries if this were taken into account.

@ThePropertyCentralGroup-w5o 5 months ago

Very helpful 👍

@SoapHD2023 6 months ago

Great video! I have considered moving to England (I’m half English) and I think I would trade a higher salary for the welfare. NHS, transport etc… just seems like a better deal.