Commuting vs. Relocating: What’s Best for South West Job Seekers?

March 3, 2025

The pandemic changed employment trends more than we ever thought possible. The short-term necessity to work from home led many employees to realise they were more efficient and much happier without their daily commute. But now that restrictions have been lifted, many companies are working hard to encourage their employees back into the office.

While some organisations have been happy to embrace a distributed team, this isn’t right for every company. There are some roles that cannot be done remotely, and the loss of face-to-face interactions would be detrimental to productivity. This leaves employees with a dilemma; if they land a new role in the South West, should they commute or consider relocating?

The South West is booming in terms of employment growth and new opportunities. So rather than focus on areas like the South East for opportunities, the best candidates are now looking for roles in the South West. In this guide, we’re looking at the pros and cons of commuting versus relocating, so you can decide which route is right for you.

Job opportunities in the south west

Places like Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Cornwall are hotspots for hiring at the moment. If you ever thought you needed to stick to London for job opportunities, think again. There are plenty of employers of all sizes with opportunities to rival the London region. But if you don’t already live there, you might be wondering if it is better to relocate or to commute.

Relocating offers the following benefits:

• Opportunity to reduce your commute, which could help to improve your work/life balance.
• Some organisations will offer a relocation signing bonus to help with moving costs.
• There might be cheaper spots to put down roots in London, and there might be areas in the South West that are just as pricey as the capital, but on the whole, rent and house prices will be lower in the South West.
• A shorter commute means lower transport costs, which can have a significant impact on your take-home pay. You could even get rid of your vehicle entirely and rely on public transport or a bike to get to work.

On the other hand, commuting also has its benefits:

• You might find that your current living situation is already affordable, and moving would just lead to greater costs, which may not be covered by your employer.
• If you have children in school, staying put will often be preferable to relocating.
• A longer commute could allow you to negotiate a hybrid working arrangement that suits your needs. However, it’s important not to accept an office-based role assuming that you’ll be able to negotiate this later. Always make sure this is part of the job offer if this is important to you.
• Commuting provides a divide between your working day and your home life than some people enjoy. It can help you to truly “switch off” and leave work in the office.
• If you have been using part of your home as an office, moving back to a full-time office-based role could help you to reclaim this section of your home.
• Relocating could mean giving up friends, family and your local community. If you have a rich social life in your current area, you might not want to give this up.

How to decide what is right for you?

If you have been offered a role in the South West and you don’t currently reside there, you have a big decision to make. It’s vital to iron out any potential issues before accepting the role, as it could be considered misleading to accept a role and then demand changes further down the line.

You need to look at your current situation and determine what is working and what isn’t. For example, look at the cost of staying where you are versus the cost of relocating. You also need to factor in your wider family such as your partner and any children. Is your partner on board with this move? Are your children at an age when they can move without too much disruption?

You should also think about the impact of a commute on your work/life balance. Can you find a way to make the commute productive? Or do you enjoy the time spent commuting as a way to wind down after a long day?

Finally, consider transport links and how practical it will be to commute every day. A commute with lots of connections has the potential to go wrong, leaving you late for work. Think about if the journey is practical or if it could become stressful.

By following these steps, you will be closer to making an informed choice about whether to relocate or commute. Another highly effective way to make this decision would be to make a list of factors to consider, assign them a level of importance, and then rate each option from 1-10. This will allow you to assign a number value and determine which decision is right for you.