Cost of living in Oxford?

marliepanda

When I lived there it was mega expensive (though my student rent took a huge chunk) I couldn't afford to do much, but then I'm from Middlesbrough so was used to getting a lot more for my money up north!

Sedge123

I live about ten miles outside of the city and have to be honest and say you probably won't be able to live in Oxford on that salary. There are good bus routes into the City from the north and west so maybe look towards Bicester, Witney or kidlington?

snailmail

thecassman86 wrote: »

Good luck with all of it!

If i'm being bluntly honest, then i wouldn't take the move in your case - unless you have serious concerns with staying as you are. I fear that taking the move might prove a bit too difficult cost-wise!

I understand your stern position on keeping the ferrets and the car but i think those 2 factors combined may be the reason you couldn't afford it. The ferrets will limit your rental options (and cost you money) and the car is just expensive in a city like Oxford - as FireWyrm said.

From your original post i get the impression you don't currently work for the Oxford employers? What's the scenario around the job offer? Is it one you applied for or do you actually work for the company already in a different location? If the latter is the case, perhaps you could look down the promotion route? The pay is greater and you'll get that relocation aid - might be a better option then.

I wish you luck whatever you decide

Thank you all for your replies, it helps to speak with people who don't know me and have an invested opinion! I think the head part of me thinks it's a step sideways rather than upwards. It is for the same company, doing something similar but with more responsibility and a much bigger place. Unfortunately the pay structure doesn't include climbing the ladder to get somewhere that doesn't involve becoming a manager, so there's no set up scheme in place that gives staff a chance to progress in a different direction. Instead they expect you to do it for free!

I know ideally getting rid of the car would be the best option if I moved, but my biggest payment spent on the car right now is petrol at about £80 a month, the rest I save for mot/tax/insurance etc.

Without the car I'd definitely feel cut off from my family as I'd like to visit, and public transport home is expensive and often unreliable (the mega bus is awful)) plus I'd still have a bus and train journey from Birmingham to the town I currently live in and where my family are.

I have spoken to the manager in Oxford to see if there would be any financial aid they could help with as HR mentioned they might be able to personally help, I've also asked what the chances of paid progression are as it's not a position I could stay in indefinitely on that pay. We 're going to have a chat on Monday and she's looking into if they can offer any relocation aid.

As for the ferrets, my parents could take the one, but the other is too much for them to handle full time so he really does need to come with me.

I've been looking at studio flats on starflats.co.uk has anyone heard of them? Some of the studio flats seem too good to be true.

http://www.starflats.co.uk/one-room-flats-in-Oxford-Oxford-Central---The-Cit.118823.html

The dates on some of the adverts are pretty old too.

I feel like putting my head in the sand lol!

MallyGirl

I did my degree at Oxford Poly (that dates me as it has been Oxford Brookes Uni for some time now). It was a really fun place to live as a young person but expensive. I was paying £350pcm for a one bed flat when I graduated 25 years ago! Council tax is high, restaurants are pricy due to the tourists. A car is no use from day to day so factor in buying a cheap bike (as it will be stolen even if locked to a concrete block as my first one was!). I ended up moving out to Kidlington to get more for my money.

mumonashoestring

http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk might be a good bet for looking at flats and houseshares - the ads will be up to date as well. Pay careful attention to the postcode - the flat you linked to earlier is in Oxford city but it's really not in the city centre! Do you know which bit of Oxford your employer is moving to? There may be a cheaper option available on the city fringe if they're moving to the business park for example...

I hope you're going to have time to come and have a look round Oxford in person before you pay a deposit/sign anything?!

Compingchris

Hi op

I've lived in oxford all my life and really like it here. I'm currently living in didcot which is south of the city. My misses works in the centre of oxford and uses the train to get in. It takes around 15 minutes to get in and costs £105 for a month pass. The cheapest rental place you can get in didot is £500-£550 a month. As others have said council tax is high. Our house (3 bed) is £160 a month! I work on the other side of oxford so have to use the main roads that go around oxford centre. I can honestly say that if I had to work in the centre I would not drive in. The traffic is horrendous. I start work at 8am but usually get in for 7:30 and even at that time there are cars lining up on the roads waiting to get into town. It can easily take over an hour and a half to drive 20 miles into the centre during rush our. The best price for petrol down here is around 126.9p not sure how that compares to the rest of the country.
The centre will be really pricey. I think it would work out cheaper to rent just outside of the centre and commute in. There are a lot of snobs in oxford, but you get used to that after a while.
I personally really like didcot. The town centre is growing, we have a good shopping centre, a few nice restaurants, a cineworld, train station that goes directly to London and Birmingham so good for days out. They seem to be investing a lot of money here.
Good luck in whatever you decide. If you decide on didcot I'd be more than happy to show you around.

allybee101

Snailmail,
I think you really need to think carefully about taking one or both ferrets with you. In all honesty most landlords have a flat 'no pets' policy regardless of how well trained/friendly your pet is. They just don't want the hassle of damage/potential damage to deal with. It's easier to say no.
I have a friend who has cats and it took over a dozen viewings before she found somewhere that would allow pets (and it was pretty grim at that). This is someone who is earning a good wage (£30,000) and was looking in a large city.
Could you ask someone to foster your other ferret until you are more settled? (family/friend/ local animal welfare)
And I think you need to look at houseshares - they're not great but we all have to start somewhere and I think that a houseshare will save you a lot of money whilst you're finding your feet. Even if it's just for 6 months it will help whilst you work out your finances.


Best of luck with your move, I hope it works out for you.

Aphidgirl

I moved to Oxford last year for a new job and am living in the East Oxford/Cowley road area which is just a couple of miles from the city centre.

I live in a shared house and pay £440 a month which includes all bills. You could definitely find a room in a shared house for £400-500 a month including bills, depending on the area/room size.

If you could re-home the ferrets then this could be an affordable option, but I have to agree that with the car expenses as well it will be very tight. The others are right that driving into Oxford city centre is a nightmare and there's no parking, so if you do move here I'd get a bike and cycle to work each day. This saves cash and its very flat so easy cycling

I think people I know at work who live in one bedroom flats are paying around £800 a month at least just in rent, so living alone is very expensive here.

I would say its only feasible on your wage if you get rid of your pets, live in a shared house, sell the car and cycle to work. Not ideal obviously if you love the ferrets

I hope this helps, good luck reaching a decision.

snailmail

mumonashoestring wrote: »

http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk might be a good bet for looking at flats and houseshares - the ads will be up to date as well. Pay careful attention to the postcode - the flat you linked to earlier is in Oxford city but it's really not in the city centre! Do you know which bit of Oxford your employer is moving to? There may be a cheaper option available on the city fringe if they're moving to the business park for example...

I hope you're going to have time to come and have a look round Oxford in person before you pay a deposit/sign anything?!

mumonashoestring wrote: »

http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk might be a good bet for looking at flats and houseshares - the ads will be up to date as well. Pay careful attention to the postcode - the flat you linked to earlier is in Oxford city but it's really not in the city centre! Do you know which bit of Oxford your employer is moving to? There may be a cheaper option available on the city fringe if they're moving to the business park for example...

I hope you're going to have time to come and have a look round Oxford in person before you pay a deposit/sign anything?!

Sorry for late reply, virgin conked out in the middle of my house research and only just came back line!

If I do decide to take the job I'll most definitely look around before signing anything or paying a deposit. I knew that flat wasn't in the city centre, but it included all bills so I thought it might even it out.

Thanks for the link I'll go check it now. So far starflats are the only site I seen with what I'm looking for and not huge prices (though still it would be tight! ) but I'm really not sure I trust it...another reason I'd go see it first:)

I would be working on the main high street near the science museum.

I'm taking again to the manager on Monday so I don't think she'll expect an answer straight away, which is good. My head is all over the place lol!

I think if the manager puts me on the spot and needs an answer tomorrow I'll have to say no. Need to think with my head, not heart. It's a sideways step not an actual promotion

Prothet_of_Doom

Recently had a Recruitment Agency contact me reference a Freelance Contract in Cowley with a Car Manufacturer, so had a little "looksee" on the internet.
This is what I found - £350 to £450 gets a room in someone's house, usually with your own bathroom, but not always. Price is all enclusive.
£650 gets you a self contained studio, where there are bills on Top. Budget £800 MIN.
If I compare that to Derby, you basically knock off £100, off those prices, unless the area is very dodgy.

In terms of Travel, I would have to travel 190 miles on a Monday from Home and Back another 190 miles on a Friday. Google maps says 3.5 hours. I say 4.5 Monday and 4.5 to 6 on Friday.

I've therefore looked at Public Transport and I could get to Oxford by 9:40 am, if I pay for a weeks car parking in Runcorn or Wigan, and an advance return is about £90.

I could leave a cheap bike at Oxford Station and cycle the last 4 miles in the rain

All theoretical, but I think on £6.67/hour you can't afford NOT to house share, unless you dump the car, and eat very very cheap.