The whole thing is complex. London has jobs, but housing is stupid cost. So what quality of life?
Oop North, housing is a fraction of the cost, so many commute to London from Doncaster, which is a couple of hours. But jobs up North are not great, even though quality of life, subject to how rural you go, is excellent.
I could have moved to London or anywhere else on over generous terms back in the day. That's what many Civil Servants did. But I chose to stay close to my roots, because as a Yorkshire man living in Yorkshire, it doesn't cost that much.
My mother bought her council house way back for £6k. When she died, I sold it immediately for £105k. That's nothing compared to prices in the South, but its a large 3 bed semi with a big garden and off street parking for 2/3cars. It sold in a few weeks, and we paid off our daughter's mortgage with some of the proceeds.
Thankfully we have never needed to chase the rental market.
