On the other hand, there is the NHS, decent annual leave, civilised working hours for most people, fairly ok public transport around the larger towns. If you define quality of life in material or financial terms, stay in the US by all means, but if you define it by the ability to have a life outside of work, the UK ain't such a bad deal.

Anyway, it depends which part of the US you come from. Going back to see my parents in CA, I have found in recent years that things are pretty much as expensive there as they are here. Houses are more, food is more, about the only things that are cheaper are clothes and fuel.

There is a decent website called UK Yankee (can't remember the exact address now, but you'll find it on Google)-- which is a good source of info for Americans living in or migrating to the UK. You should be able to get loads of advice on practical stuff there.