United States Average yearly salary

£63,500 Average monthly rent (Manhattan) £4,500

You can earn significantly more working in the US compared with the UK. Graduates in the UK can expect a starting salary of £30,921, according to the Institute of Student Employers, compared with £49,526 – in the US. The top places in the US attracting expats are the San Francisco Bay Area, for tech, and New York City for finance roles. The trade-off is that it will be far more expensive than living in a less populous, more obscure area.

HOW MUCH TAX WILL I PAY?

The US has seven federal income tax brackets, with rates of 10pc, 12pc, 22pc, 24pc, 32pc, 35pc and 37pc. The top rate applies to income of over £400,860.

On top of this, US states apply their own income taxes. Living in New York for instance, will add a further 9pc to your income tax rate.

COST OF LIVING Rent in the US varies dramatically across the country. Average monthly rent in Manhattan stood at £4,500 in July, according to Miller Samuel and Douglas Elliman. You might want to consider moving to an outer borough like Queens or The Bronx for cheaper rent. You can buy a MetroCard for $132 (£105) a month to ride the subway and buses as often as you like. You’ll also need to factor in health insurance costs. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-profit, the average annual premium for family coverage was over £17,600 last year and almost £6,400 for an individual. Most Americans get health insurance through an employer. You generally need to be sponsored by a US employer to apply for an immigrant visa.