I've had a chance to read many of the posts over the last several months, but I find it surprisingly hard to get an apples to apples comparison for different packages. Here are the details of what I'm considering. I'd appreciate the collective opinion and wisdom of those that have done this:
* Relocating from Colorado USA to Uxbridge, UK (greater London)
* Have wife and 3 young kids
* Base salary is 110k USD
* 2 yr assignment
* Nominal storage and shipping scheme is being offered.
* 2 weeks temp living in and out of country
* 1x 15k USD furniture/appliance allowance
* Home leave after 1 year
* 15% of base pay foreign service premium (1375 USD per month)
* $2225 housing allowance (24% base pay)
* 100% utilities paid
* $250 per month for upkeep of residence in US.
* $3500 / month COLA which is about 38% of base salary.
* Tax equalization
* Dependent education up to a max (they haven't told me max yet)
I've been looking around at rental properties in Uxbridge and get a sense that a 4 bedroom house is going to run 2200 GBP. My housing allowance doesn't cut that, but my COLA can probably help offset this.
At the same time, however, I get the feeling (based largely on others posts) that my COLA is pretty slim.
Assuming I can't rent my property in the states to help offset this cost, am I going to be losing money with this package? Or is this pretty satisfactory?
Thanks!
Daniel
* Relocating from Colorado USA to Uxbridge, UK (greater London)
* Have wife and 3 young kids
* Base salary is 110k USD
* 2 yr assignment
* Nominal storage and shipping scheme is being offered.
* 2 weeks temp living in and out of country
* 1x 15k USD furniture/appliance allowance
* Home leave after 1 year
* 15% of base pay foreign service premium (1375 USD per month)
* $2225 housing allowance (24% base pay)
* 100% utilities paid
* $250 per month for upkeep of residence in US.
* $3500 / month COLA which is about 38% of base salary.
* Tax equalization
* Dependent education up to a max (they haven't told me max yet)
I've been looking around at rental properties in Uxbridge and get a sense that a 4 bedroom house is going to run 2200 GBP. My housing allowance doesn't cut that, but my COLA can probably help offset this.
At the same time, however, I get the feeling (based largely on others posts) that my COLA is pretty slim.
Assuming I can't rent my property in the states to help offset this cost, am I going to be losing money with this package? Or is this pretty satisfactory?
Thanks!
Daniel
