Want to earn more? Move abroad

By Jennifer Hill

LONDON (Reuters) - British professionals could earn an average 40 percent more by relocating abroad, research shows.

The average professional expatriate earns 67,000 pounds, compared to a UK average of 47,000 pounds -- 42.6 percent less, according to NatWest International.

Its "wealth ranking survey", undertaken with the Centre of Future Studies think-tank, shows that the United Arab Emirates tops the charts, with professionals netting an average annual salary of 79,000 pounds.

Even Portugal, at the lower end, comes in with a respectable average annual wage of 58,000 pounds.

However, when the cost of living is taken into account Spain (with an average expat salary of 65,000 pounds) and Italy (76,000 pounds) jumped up the table.

David Isley, head of personal banking at NatWest International, said: "The wage packets of expats are very encouraging for people who are looking to move abroad.

"People who are willing to move abroad not only benefit from bigger earnings in countries such as Spain and Italy, but also have the advantage of a lower cost of living."

Overall, 68 percent of those surveyed found that the cost of living abroad to be lower than in the UK, which lead to 90 percent considering themselves financially better off.