Why is the cost of living cheaper in europe than england?

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Wal

Tax,tax,tax, some one has to pay for all of those out of work hangers on, 1parent families ( or at least not married ), large families who have 5 , 6 and more kids ( usually of foreign decent ) and of cause a house for the poor things, which they won't be paying any community tax as they are POOR,

Brendan E

There are a number of reasons - and yes tax is one of them; though not so much income tax as all the other taxes.

Generally you will find that those countries with the highest average wages also have a higher than average cost of living. Wage inflation fuels the cost of services more than goods. (ie: Hotel accommodation)

You will also find that those countries with a strong currency - and the Â£ is strong against both the dollar and the Euro - will also have a higher cost of living if those countries are heavily dependent on imports. England imports almost all of its raw materials and a large percentage of the finished goods found in shops.

Taxes other than income tax and other fixed costs are also a significant factor. The average person / family has to find the money to pay for

Council Tax
Car Tax
Television Licence
Water Rates

and the high cost of petrol. Almost 75% of the cost of a litre of petrol is made up of various taxes including VAT.

Brendan E

Ting Tong

Taxes,taxes,taxes... as usual the British just sit an take it and do nothing.

Penfold

Cost of land and the taxes being applied to the goods. WIth so many people living on a small island means the demand for land is high, pushing up purchase and rental prices for land and property. Added to the fact that taxes in the UK are high.

skcs69

cost of transportation of goods and tax.

zoezeph

because we have a greedy government who think it is ok to tax us on everything,then tax us some more. I mean do we actually get higher rates of pay to that of our european counterparts?i don't think so. I am not a politician,nor would i like to be but they seem to get it all mixed up. maybe it stems from the colonial days of Britain thinking "we own the bloody world,we can do as we please!" Lets convert to the euro,maybe this will lower the cost of living in Britain!

mr.threethirtyfive

Taxes...right. And it couldn't possibly have anything to do with the cost of importing everything into the country (its being an island and all...), could it. No, everything has to be the fault of the government somehow.

mesmerized

We are an Island ,so everthing's prices are controlled by the people who control the taxes on the imports.

This is why people have started ordering cartons of cigarettes from Latvia for Â£7 on the internet ( U.K. price Â£20)

Or -buy British !

M : )

sarah

because the wages are lower

Paul D

Tax as everyone else has said, but did you know that if VAT, council tax, inheritance tax, and all the other taxes were abolished every working tax payer in the UK would get taxed approx 60 p for every Â£1.
As for importing goods into the UK as we are an island, that makes no difference on the cost of fuel or things grown or made in this country, the main difference on importing goods is IMPORT taxes or VAT, on fuel and booze and tobacco it is tax set by Mr Brown. Wages in Germany are higher than in UK and the standard tax rate is higher, but they do not have a complicated system, it shows them exactly how much tax they pay there are no where near as many "stealth" taxes.

Part Time Cynic

I have worked in Holland for the minimuum wage. I have worked in England for the minimuum wage. For an hours work i can buy a pot of peanut butter, butter, bread and milk in a supermarket in Holland. Try to buy those with an hours minimuum wage in a supermarket in England. Maybe in KwikSave or Lidl's or the cheap brands in the main supermarkets. So maybe it is as simple as taxation.

Saying that, here VAT is 17.5% on everything bar books, children's shoes etc ... In Belgium there are varying VAT rates. Not sure whatt he lowest is but is is for necessities whereas what they call luxury items gest a VAT tax rate of 21%. The top income tax rate for Holland is 60% too (as opposed to 40% for the UK)

JOHN jen

not everything is cheaper in europe but people think because cigarettes and alcohol are cheaper the cost of living is cheaper and this is not the case,surely the government is right to put high taxes on items that kill you

Eggman

A lot smaller place with free health service and money to the scroungers who don't work.

bizzybee

Its because we have majority of things that we use imported from other countries, for example Fuel, that's a disgrace how much we are being charged for fuel today.

This country has gone to the dogs, in many ways.

Jo M

because our poxy government likes to tax us on everything.

gary b

Try Ireland.

Second most expensive in Europe behind Finland Ithink?

nitram r

tax. as simple as that

ANF

Apart from Germany we are the highest taxed country in Europe. The only reason. It has got worse under the labour government and will continue.

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