I haven't kept good track of things recently, especially cash expenses, so this report is kind of slapdash. Nevertheless you can see how much more expensive it is to rent an apartment in London, as well as the high cost of eating out. I think a lot of middle class people live in subsidized housing here, though I don't know the details. As far as dining out is concerned, I know that many people here have learned to consider beans on toast with tea to be haute cuisine.

In any event, the cost of living is much higher, and the quality of life is much lower, at least in the Turkish ghetto where we live. I think I may have been a little overzealous about living in an unfashionable neighborhood.

Food
$169.42 Safeway
$ 71.10 Waitrose
$ 31.33 Sainsbury's
$271.85 (sub-total)

Shelter
$1837.33 Rent

Transportation
$120.48 London Transit (monthly pass)
$ 13.12 Misc. Travel
$133.60 (sub-total)

Utilities
$285.94 Phone/Internet (incl. DSL modem purchase, phone hook-up)
$256.00 Cell phone (Initial deposit)
$ 19.20 Cell phone
$561.14 (sub-total)

Eating Out
$ 49.25 Arigato
$ 38.40 HK Diner
$ 67.20 Ichiriki
$ 80.00 New Mayflower
$ 40.00 Soho Spice
$ 25.60 Super Bowl
$290.45 (sub-total)

Retail
$174.78 Argos
$ 38.53 Boots
$ 22.38 Dixons
$ 12.77 Ryness Electrical Supply
$248.46 (sub-total)

Miscellaneous
$304.00 (cash withdrawals in March, unaccounted for)
----------------------------
$3646.83 Grand Total

Consumer Expenditure Survey -- Master Index

• January 2003 -- Chicago
• December 2002 -- Chicago
• November 2002 -- Chicago
• October 2002 -- Chicago

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