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> The cost of living in London eats up any salary benefit.

Does it actually though? Genuine question having grown up here. I live with my partner, our monthly outgoings living on the zone 1/2 border are ~£800 each for mortgage, bills, car insurance, etc. Last year I earned ~£90k before tax. I don't think I would have earned anything like that amount working in another part in the UK. Even if my cost of living was halved I'd only be saving around £5k a year.

I'm relatively young I suppose and I don't love everything about London, but I see lots of benefits to living here outside of the income, too. I can also be in the (proper) countryside in an hour or so drive at the weekends if I want a change of scenery.

[ck425]

> mortgage

When did you buy? I get the distinct impression from friends that even well off techies are struggling to get a big deposit together for a London property nowadays.

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Late 2018. I got a big income bump in early 2017 and both my partner I and were able to save for a deposit by living frugally for a couple of years. I wouldn't have been able to do it alone though, I think you realistically need two incomes to buy in London.

[wdb]

Deposit it not the problem, it's the disappointing quality of the properties in London that stops me buying. Why spend £700-800k for a 2-3 bedroom place which has finishing like it's £250k flat.