Northern Ireland is a great place to consider moving to. UK citizens can still access benefits, such as the NHS, and the cost of living and property prices are significantly lower.
In general, it has a quieter pace of living compared to England. This makes Northern Ireland an attractive country for people looking to settle down away from busier areas of the UK, such as London, Manchester and Liverpool.
In this article, we discuss moving from England to Northern Ireland, from removal costs to property prices.
Removals from England to Northern Ireland
The average UK removal cost is £1,350. This is based on moving the contents of a 3-bedroom house over a 50-mile distance. With extra transport needed to move from England to Northern Ireland, you can expect the cost of moving to be higher than local move prices.
Here are some estimated costs for different locations in each country:
London to Belfast City - £1295
Manchester to Ballycastle - £1104
Bristol to Omagh - £1245
Newcastle to Cultra - £1008
Exeter to Derry - £1391
(The average house price for each area has been taken from Rightmove and Home.co.uk. The distance of the move was used to calculate the estimated removal costs. Removal costs are based on a 3-bedroom house. We used our cost of moving house calculator.)
You may need to use additional services offered by removal companies, such as packing services. These will be charged at an extra cost. Our research from six packing companies shows that packing costs around £387.
When moving to Northern Ireland, you need to choose the best removal company. Here at Compare My Move, we can connect you with up to 6 verified removal partners so you can compare removal companies. This can help you save money on your move to Northern Ireland.
All costs listed in this article are correct at the time of writing. Costs may vary slightly, and this is just an estimated number.
Prices are based on our cost data, received directly from user feedback.
How to Become a Resident of Northern Ireland
If you're a UK citizen, moving to Northern Ireland is straightforward. You are not required to have any specific visas or applications. If you're not a UK citizen living in England, you will be required to apply for the necessary applications and visas.
You can use the Gov.UK website to determine whether you will be required to apply for a VISA. If you require one, you will need to apply through the UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration).
You can apply to become a resident of Northern Ireland if you're not a UK citizen. The most common way is through naturalisation if you're in a civil partnership or marriage with an Irish citizen. Some of the regulations you need to meet include:
Over 18 years of age
In a marriage for over 3 years
Have been living in Ireland for 3 out of 5 years
You live with your spouse
You will continue to live in Ireland once accepted as an Irish citizen
After you have collected all the relevant information, you will need to send this to the Immigration Service Delivery for the citizenship to be approved.
Property Market
Property prices are more affordable in Northern Ireland compared to England.
The UK House Price Index indicates that the average home in Northern Ireland is £176,131. The average property in England costs £316,000 on average.
This table displays the average house prices for Northern Ireland and England as of November 2022:
| House Type | Northern Ireland (Average Price) | England (Average Price) |
|---|---|---|
| Flats and Maisonettes | £129,230 | £254,485 |
| Terraced Houses | £122,673 | £259,045 |
| Semi-detached Houses | £169,956 | £302,583 |
| Detached houses | £270,991 | £495,804 |
The average rent in Northern Ireland costs £722 per month, according to HomeLet. Compared to an average of £1,174 in England, Northern Ireland is significantly cheaper.
Popular areas to live in include Ballycastle, Belfast City, Cultra and Londonderry. Ards and North Down are some of the most expensive areas to live in Northern Ireland. Dungiven and Coalisland are more affordable areas.
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Travel and Commuting
Travel and commuting in Northern Ireland are straightforward. There is good public transport and road links between the different towns and cities, making commuting easy and accessible.
Transport in Northern Ireland is more limited in comparison to England. There are no metros, trams or underground systems, which does impact commute times. However, bus and train links are efficient and frequent in most areas.
Bus and train services are limited in more rural areas of Northern Ireland. Having a car would be necessary for rural areas if you need to travel or commute to work.
Jobs and Salary
There are some differences between jobs and salaries in England and Northern Ireland.
Ireland:
There are many different types of job opportunities in Northern Ireland. In general, the available jobs aren’t too dissimilar to those in England. The most popular industries according to NI Direct include:
Creative and digital media
Agri food
Renewable energy
Recycling
ICT
Business and finance
Health and life sciences
England:
In England, the jobs are not too dissimilar. However, there is a different focus. The most popular jobs in England are:
Wholesale, retail and motor trade
Human health and social work
Education
Construction
Manufacturing
The average salary in Northern Ireland is £28,363 according to Totaljobs. Think Plutus states that the average salary in England is £26,192. Not only is the pay higher in Northern Ireland, but the average salary is higher too.
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Cost of Living
In general, the cost of living in Northern Ireland is cheaper than in England.
Here are some cost of living figures for both Northern Ireland and England:
| Cost of Living Examples (Based on One Person) | Northern Ireland | England |
|---|---|---|
| Public transport pass (monthly) | £51.20 | £77.80 |
| Utility bills (monthly) | £74.30 | £113 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | £27.90 | £33.10 |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | £5.62 | £5.87 |
| Beer (0.5L) | £1.68 | £1.88 |
| Taxi (5 miles) | £14.20 | £14.10 |
| Preschool (monthly) | £760 | £1059 |
| Inexpensive restaurant meal for 2 people | £46.30 | £49.80 |
| NHS Prescriptions (per item) | Free | £9.35 |
The cost of living in London is higher than in other areas of England. This does have an impact on the national average as a result.
Education
There are many high-performing schools to consider in both Northern Ireland and England. These include Lumen Christi College in Derry and Strathearn School in Belfast.
Ireland:
Northern Ireland schools use a similar curriculum to those in England and Wales. All children receive a free school place. However, compulsory education is between the ages of 4 to 16. In England, education begins in primary school at the age of 5.
There are fewer universities in Northern Ireland, with only 5 universities to choose from:
Queen’s University Belfast
Ulster University
St Mary’s University College
Stranmillis University College
College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise
England:
England has a wider variety of choices when it comes to universities. It’s home to some of the most notable universities in the world. Some of England’s prestigious universities include:
University of Oxford
King’s College London
University of Bath
University of Cambridge
University of Bristol
University tuition fees in Northern Ireland are more affordable compared to England. The maximum fee is £4,855, and in England, it’s up to £9,535. While tuition fees are lower. However, student life is less prevalent in general.
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Culture/Art
Irish culture is unique, and Northern Irish people in general are open and welcoming. Being a Celtic nation, they have strong roots in history.
Smaller towns and villages such as Banbridge are close to the city to commute and travel, but offer a quieter way of living. This is a contrast to built-up cities such as London and Manchester in England.
For those who enjoy walking, there are Bangor Castle Walled Garden and Slieve Gullion Forest Park. There are many castles in Northern Ireland, such as Glenarm Castle. Giant’s Causeway and the Causeway Coast World Heritage Site are popular areas.
There are many art galleries in Northern Ireland. This includes the Golden Thread Gallery and the MAC. Popular museums include the Ulster Museum, the Tower Museum and the Titanic Museum.
While English is the most popular language, many people speak Irish. Religion is important to the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. Christianity is the dominant religion.
The 2021 Census for Northern Ireland shows that 42.3% of people identified as Catholic and 16.6% as Presbyterian. In general, culture and religion in England are more varied and ethnically diverse in comparison to Northern Ireland.
Nightlife/Social Scene
The nightlife and social scene in Northern Ireland vary. If you enjoy a busier way of life, Belfast is a great city to live in. It's the most popular location for nightlife and those looking to socialise. There are many bars, restaurants and clubs to visit.
Ulster is home to the Mid Ulster Arts Festival, and Belfast runs a Children's Festival each year. There are events and social groups for all interests and ages.
St Patrick's Day is a national holiday and one of the most popular days in Ireland. There are marching bands, street festivals, and traditional dancing. Armagh is the home to the yearly St Patrick's Day festival.
Pubs are as popular in Northern Ireland as they are in England. Live music is well-loved, and there are often local shows to attend.
The social scene in Northern Ireland is varied. While Northern Ireland is a smaller country compared to England, there is still a lot to experience.
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Is it Worth Moving to Northern Ireland from England?
If you're looking to save money, it's worth considering moving to Northern Ireland from England. Here is a summary of Northern Ireland’s pros and cons to provide you with a better idea of whether you should move from England:
Pros:
Lower cost of living
Rent is cheaper
Average house prices are lower
Beautiful scenery
Rich in culture and history
Free NHS prescriptions
Good education system
A safe place to live overall
Green spaces
Welcoming and friendly country
Cons:
Moving items to Northern Ireland can be more difficult
Weather isn’t always reliable with lots of rain and cloudy days
Not as many universities to choose from
Not as many amenities in more remote locations of the country
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