Knowing how to decide where to live is one of the most important choices you’ll make, yet it rarely comes with a clear process. Job opportunities, living costs, transport links, safety, and schools all pull in different directions, and it can feel overwhelming to weigh them up fairly.
This guide walks you through the key factors to consider and a practical five-step process for making your decision, with a specific focus on choosing between UK locations.
TL;DR
- The key factors are job market, cost of living, transport links, safety and crime rates, and school quality.
- Research each area online first using official tools: police.uk for crime data, Ofsted for schools, and ONS data for cost-of-living comparisons.
- Always visit your shortlisted areas in person at different times of day before committing.
- Remote workers have more freedom to prioritise affordability and lifestyle over proximity to employers.
- Once you’ve weighed every factor, trust your instincts, the right place tends to feel right on the ground.
Table of Contents
Cost of living comparison – UK vs International
Cost of Living Comparison
How far would your money go abroad? Pick a destination and your monthly budget to see the difference, and the salary you’d need to match it.
UK vs…
Cost vs UK (UK = 100)
🌍 Before you commit to a country
- Indices are a guide, your city matters as much as your country (capital vs coast).
- Factor in healthcare, tax and visa rules, not just day-to-day prices.
- Plan the logistics early. Moving abroad checklist →
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Get an international quoteIndicative cost-of-living indices for guidance only, benchmarked to the UK (=100). Not financial advice.
What factors determine where people decide to live?
The factors that determine where people decide to live include job opportunities, cost of living, transport links, quality of life, social life, safety and crime rates, and school quality. No single factor outweighs the rest for everyone, the right balance depends on your priorities, your stage of life, and your budget. The sections below break each one down so you can assess what matters most to you.
Job opportunities
Job opportunities are critical when deciding where to live in the UK. Different regions and cities have varying levels of employment prospects depending on your industry.
If you’re looking for tech jobs, cities like London, Manchester or Bristol might be the most suitable options. London is an ideal place to live and start your career as a young up-and-coming employee. Beyond tech, Leeds and Edinburgh are strong for financial services, while Cambridge has a well-established cluster of life sciences and research roles.
With the rise of remote work, it’s worth checking whether you can do your job from home. If you can, that opens up more affordable or lifestyle-led locations that you might otherwise have ruled out. East England, for instance, offers lower property prices and good road and rail connections while remaining accessible to London employers. Make sure to research the local job market before making any significant moves, as certain areas may have more job openings than others.
Check also: Best places to live in London for your family and career
Quality of life
Finding somewhere to live that offers an excellent quality of life can be essential to your overall satisfaction and well-being. Quality of life is critical for many people, contributing to their and their family’s happiness.
Access to green spaces can improve your mental and physical health, so look for places with parks, nature reserves, and walking trails nearby. Ensure the area has access to quality healthcare facilities, including hospitals and clinics. For healthcare coverage, check NHS England’s service area maps to confirm which GP practices and hospital trusts serve a given postcode. You should also consider your children’s education as another significant factor, Ofsted publishes inspection ratings for every state school in England, and you can search by postcode at ofsted.gov.uk to get a clear picture of local provision before you commit.
Transportation
Transport is a crucial factor to consider. If you prefer to live in the capital or a bigger city, you will have more means of transportation than if residing in a more rural area.
Living in the city, however, can also mean dealing with heavy traffic. Consider the available transportation types, such as public transport, bike lanes and pedestrian walkways. A practical first step is to check National Rail or TfL journey planners for timed routes from a potential area to your workplace, this gives you a concrete commute figure rather than a rough estimate, and it’s often what makes or breaks a shortlisted location. If you are looking for a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere, you can find it in suburban areas. If your job is in a different location, check the transportation options since this can lead to difficulty getting around and longer commute times.
Cost of living
It’s essential to research the cost of living when deciding where to live to ensure you can afford your daily expenses. Housing, transportation, utilities, groceries, and healthcare are just some of the factors that you must pay attention to.
Living in London, for instance, can be expensive due to the high housing costs, while living in smaller towns or rural areas where the cost of living is low can be more affordable. It’s also important to factor in your income, as some areas may have a lower cost of living but lower job opportunities and salaries.
For first-time buyers weighing up affordability across different areas, the ONS publishes regional cost-of-living data that lets you compare household expenditure by area, while property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla show sold prices and current rental averages by postcode. Numbeo is a free tool that aggregates user-submitted cost data across UK cities and is useful for side-by-side comparisons of everyday expenses. Consider the lifestyle you want, as specific locations might offer more amenities and entertainment options but have a higher cost of living. Ultimately, it’s all about finding the right balance between affordability and quality of life.
Check also: Cheapest areas to rent in London
Social life
The availability of social activities and the opportunity to connect with people who share your interests can significantly impact your choice of where you want to live. Look for communities that offer diverse opportunities to meet new people, build relationships, and participate in social activities. Or move to a place where you can live a simple life.
Consider different aspects of the social scene depending on your age and lifestyle. If you’re in your twenties, you may prefer areas with vibrant nightlife and plenty of bars and clubs.
If you’re raising a family, look for neighbourhoods with parks, playgrounds, and family-friendly events. Seniors may prioritise access to social clubs and community events. In addition, consider your friends and family’s proximity.
Whatever your age or lifestyle, research the social scene in the area you’re considering and look for neighbourhoods with a welcoming community and plenty of opportunities to connect with like-minded people.
Safety and crime rates
Whether you’re single or have a family, feeling secure in your community is essential for your peace of mind. Safety can mean different things to different people, but generally, it involves low crime rates, secure housing, and a community that looks out for one another.
You’ll want to research crime statistics in the area you’re considering and take note of any safety features, such as streetlights or neighbourhood watch programmes. The most direct way to do this is to use the Police UK crime map at police.uk, which lets you enter any postcode and see recorded crime by category for that area. Active Neighbourhood Watch scheme membership in a street is also a reliable positive signal about community cohesion. Living in a gated community or having a security system can also add an extra layer of protection.
Check also: How to choose your moving date
Schools and family considerations
If you have children, or are planning to, school quality can be the deciding factor between two otherwise similar areas. A home in the catchment of a well-rated school tends to hold its value better too, which matters if you’re buying rather than renting.
Check Ofsted ratings at ofsted.gov.uk before you shortlist any area. Ratings are updated after each inspection, so you get a current picture rather than a historic one. Rightmove’s school checker tool also lets you overlay school catchment boundaries onto a property search, which is genuinely useful when you’re narrowing down streets rather than just towns.
Beyond schools, think about access to GP surgeries, children’s play areas, and family-friendly community events. These factors tend to compound over time: a neighbourhood with good schools, accessible healthcare, and community activity is usually one where it’s easier to put down roots.
How do you decide where to live?
To decide where to live, work through five steps in sequence: clarify your priorities, research potential locations using online tools, visit your shortlisted areas in person, speak to people who already live there, and then trust your instincts when you’ve gathered enough evidence. The steps below walk you through each one.
A five-step process for choosing where to live in the UK, from clarifying your priorities to making the final call.
Identify your priorities
Take a moment and pinpoint your priorities. That will help you make a coherent decision with your values and needs. Consider all the factors already discussed, the cost of living, your career goals, your lifestyle, preferring to live in a quiet neighbourhood or the city centre, and so on. Once you have a clear idea of what’s most significant to you, you can use this information to narrow your options.
Research potential locations
Finding a new home requires research about possible locations. With abundant online information, learning about different neighbourhoods, cities, and countries is easier than ever. Local news sources and community events can give you a feel of the area’s culture and vibe. Take a virtual site tour using Google Maps or other online tools. By thoroughly researching potential locations, you can make an informed decision and increase your chances of finding a place that’s right for you. Check also: The complete moving abroad from the UK checklist
Visit the areas you are considering
Once you have narrowed down your list of potential locations, check out those areas in person. First-hand experience will always give you the best point of view of what it would be like to live there. While visiting, take note of the vibe of the area, the people you meet, the amenities available, and the overall atmosphere. A helpful suggestion would be to visit at different times of the day to better understand the area’s energy and activity levels. All of this can help you get a sense of whether or not the place is the right fit for you.
Consult with locals
Speaking with locals can give you valuable insight into what it’s like to reside in a particular area. That will help you understand the community and daily life in the location you’re thinking about. Reach out to people you know who live in the area or by joining local social media groups and forums. Ask them about their experience and opinions about their neighbourhoods or towns.
Trust your gut
While it’s essential to research and evaluate all the practical factors, listening to your intuition is also necessary. Pay attention to how you feel when you visit a particular area and consider how you would fit in there. Do you feel comfortable and at ease, or uneasy and out of place? It’s also helpful to reflect on your past experiences, more specifically on what made you happy in terms of living situations. Sometimes, our instincts can lead us in the right direction, and it’s essential to trust them. Ultimately, deciding where to live is personal, and you should choose a place that feels right. Check also: Best London commuter towns to move to
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I research crime rates in an area before moving?
Use the official Police UK crime map at police.uk, which lets you enter any postcode and see recorded crime by category for that specific area. Neighbourhood Watch scheme membership in a street is also a positive signal about community cohesion and how actively residents look out for one another.
How do I compare the cost of living between UK areas?
The ONS publishes regional cost-of-living data, and property portals like Rightmove and Zoopla show sold prices and rental averages by postcode. For a broader picture, the cost-of-living comparison tool above covers UK vs international destinations. Numbeo is also a useful free resource for comparing everyday expenses across UK cities side by side.
Should first-time buyers choose location or property size?
For most first-time buyers, location tends to hold or grow value better than extra square footage, especially where there are strong transport links and well-rated schools nearby. That said, your mortgage budget will ultimately define your realistic shortlist, getting a mortgage-in-principle before comparing areas gives you a firm ceiling to work within rather than narrowing down locations based on prices alone.
Conclusion
Deciding where to live is a big decision, but it becomes more manageable when you work through it systematically. Start with your priorities, use the right research tools for crime, schools and costs, visit your shortlisted areas more than once, and give your instincts the same weight as the data. There’s no single right answer, only the answer that fits your life.
When you’re ready to make the move, Fantastic Removals is here to make the moving process straightforward. Our house removals team handles the logistics so you can focus on settling into your new area.
