Moving From England to Wales
England is a great place to live, it's diverse and has a varied culture. There are many well-known cities that have a wide variety of job openings, such as London and Manchester. It's a country full of opportunities and provides a stable lifestyle.
In comparison, Wales provides a slower place of living. This is perfect for those looking to live in a quieter location while still experiencing city living in Cardiff and Swansea.
With a smaller population of 3.1 million, the cities and towns in Wales are generally less crowded. Competition for houses tends to be lower than in popular areas of England.
In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about moving from England to Wales, covering topics such as removal costs and the property market.
Why are People Moving From England to Wales?
There are many reasons why people are making the move to wales. While there are some areas of Wales that are densely populated, in general, it's a quieter country compared to England.
House prices and rent in Wales are both lower than in England. This provides people with a higher amount of disposable income, allowing them to have a better quality of life overall.
We asked people we helped make the move from England to Wales the reasons why they chose to move. The most common reasons were:
- Lifestyle choice - 47.4%
- Family-related - 42.1%
- Retirement - 26.3%
- Lower cost of living - 15.8%
- For Work - 15.8%
Compare My Move’s data shows there was a 48% increase in people moving from England to Wales.
880 people moved to Wales in 2020, which increased to 1,297 in 2021. In contrast to this, only 408 people moved from Wales to England in 2020, which increased to 593 in 2021.
Property Prices
Property prices in Wales are less expensive compared to England. This is particularly true when comparing property prices in the South Wales Valleys to cities like London and Manchester.
The UK House Price Index shows the average home in Wales costs £213,091. In England, the average property costs £316,000.
The table below displays the average house prices in Wales and England for November 2022:
| House Type | Wales (Average Price) | England (Average Price) |
|---|---|---|
Flats and Maisonettes | £133,647 | £254,485 |
Terraced Houses | £167,929 | £259,045 |
Semi-detached Houses | £207,493 | £302,583 |
Detached houses | £322,562 | £495,804 |
* Data taken from the UK House Price Index for Wales and England.
The average rental cost in Wales is £804 according to HomeLet. Rent in England is £1,174 on average, which is higher. Some areas of Wales are more expensive to live in, such as Cardiff and the Gower.
Popular areas to live in Wales include the Vale of Glamorgan and Tenby. Lower-cost towns include Neath, Port Talbot and Merthyr Tydfil.
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Work and Salary
There is a wide variety of career opportunities in Wales. In terms of popularity, Wales and England have the same types of jobs available. The 2021 Census shows the most popular job roles are:
- Wholesale, retail and motor trade
- Human health and social work
- Education
- Construction
- Manufacturing
The average salary in Wales is lower than in England at £23,996. The average salary in England is £26,192. However, the London Living Wage needs to be taken into consideration which is higher than the average wage. This data was taken from ThinkPlutus.
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Cost of Living
The cost of living in Wales is lower than the cost of living in England.
Here are some useful cost of living figures as displayed by LivingCost.Org for Wales and England:
| Cost of Living Examples | Wales | England |
|---|---|---|
Public transport pass (monthly) | £52.50 | £77.80 |
Utility bills (monthly) | £111 | £113 |
Gym membership (monthly) | £29.50 | £33.10 |
Chicken Breast (1kg) | £5.62 | £5.87 |
Beer (0.5L) | £1.77 | £1.88 |
Taxi (5 miles) | £12.40 | £14.10 |
Preschool (monthly) | £828 | £1059 |
Inexpensive restaurant meal for 2 people | £49 | £49.80 |
NHS Prescriptions (per item) | Free | £9.35 |
* Data based on one person
Education
The education system in Wales is very similar to England.
Education is compulsory between the ages of 5-16. The main difference is that the Welsh language is a compulsory subject in Welsh schools. It’s taught as a second language from Key Stage 2 to GCSE level.
Wales has Welsh-medium schools for fluent Welsh speakers. Each county has a Welsh-medium school and many receive higher performance results in comparison to English-medium schools.
Top performing schools in Wales include Ysgol Bro Preseli and Cowbridge Comprehensive school.
There are only 8 universities in Wales, compared to 164 in England. Some universities include:
- Cardiff University
- Swansea University
- University of South Wales
- Bangor University
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
England has a wider variety of university choices. It's home to some of the best universities in Europe. Some of the most popular universities in England include:
- King’s College London
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- University of Bristol
- University of Bath
Universities in Wales have a capped yearly tuition fee of £9,000. In England, universities can charge up to £9,250. Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea are popular student areas.
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Culture/Art
Wales is known for its open and welcoming culture. Being a Celtic nation, it’s deep-rooted in rich history.
Having their own language is something Welsh people are proud of. While it’s not the first language for many people, there are still a lot of Welsh speakers across Wales.
Rugby and singing are a big part of Welsh culture. There are many Male Voice Choirs across Wales that are well-known. Wales is well-known for its friendly residents.
From Eisteddfods to St. David’s Day, Welsh people enjoy celebrating their nationality. Wales has many areas of outstanding beauty, such as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and the Brecon Beacons.
There are historical museums, such as the National Museum Cardiff and St. Fagans National Museum. It's a popular country for mountain biking, outdoor activities and adventure sports.
Snowdonia and Pen-y-Fan are great hikes. The Gower and west Wales are home to beautiful sandy beaches.
The culture and art in England and Wales aren't too dissimilar. Both countries are multicultural and diverse.
Nightlife/Social Scene
Cardiff and Swansea are the best cities for nightlife. They are home to many bars and clubs that suit a wide variety of tastes. Bangor is another popular city for nightlife, especially with students. The social scene is also great as everyone is welcoming, and there are events to suit everyone.
Across Wales, there are thousands of local pubs that are popular. There are always theatre shows, concerts and different events in Wales to enjoy.
The Wales Millennium Centre and the Cardiff International Arena are hubs for live events. The Mumbles has many lovely restaurants close to the sea to enjoy. While Wales isn’t as busy as some places in England, there are plenty of things to see and do.
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Is It Worth Moving to Wales from England?
As Wales has a lower cost of living, it's certainly worth moving to Wales.
Here is a summary of the pros and cons to consider to provide you with a better idea of whether you should move to Wales: has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- Rich in culture and history
- Lower cost of living
- Lower housing costs
- Free NHS prescriptions
- Good education system
- Opportunities to learn Welsh
- Welcoming and friendly culture
- The Welsh Government governs in addition to the UK parliament
- Towns close to the border allow you to commute to jobs in England
Cons:
- Wales has a high amount of rainfall each year
- Not as busy or populated as places in England for those looking for a busier lifestyle or city life
- Smaller towns have fewer amenities
- Some Welsh places and words can be hard to pronounce and understand for non-Welsh speakers
- Country roads can be more difficult to drive on in rural locations
- While you don’t need to speak Welsh in Wales, it helps to know the basics of the language
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Removals from England to Wales
The average removal cost for a 3-bedroom house a distance of 50 miles within the UK is £1,181. This will vary depending on the distance travelled and the number of goods being moved.
Here are some estimated removal costs from England to Wales based on our cost of moving house calculator:
- London to Cardiff - £918
- Plymouth to Wrexham - £1,048
- Liverpool to Swansea - £941
- Brighton to Newport - £958
- Newcastle to Brecon - £1104
(The average house price for each area taken from Rightmove. The distance of the move was used to calculate the estimated removal costs. Removal costs are based on a 3-bedroom house)
In addition to removal costs, you may need to use other services. The average costs of these services are:
- Packing - £250
- Dismantling and reassembling - £125
It’s vital to hire the help of a trusted and reliable removals company. Here at Compare My Move, we can assist you in choosing the best removals company.
We can place you in contact with up to 6 verified removals partners while saving you money on your move from England to Wales.
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