I'm so sad I'm missing the proper summer temperatures in the Highlands this week. I'll bring the rain back with me from China, don't worry.......
Shhh, I thought we were keeping the amazingness that is Scotland to ourselves......
I would say, be prepared to have a much lower salary expectation all around, especially in tech. (Though our computer tech folks can chime in). I'm a staff level engineer and my salary is great for the area, but nowhere close to what I'd be earning at my level in the USA. Also, I'm pretty well stuck in my job because there is no other company around that has anything I'm qualified for and the salary is better than anywhere else around..... But I keep looking.
Food is much cheaper in the UK - I couldn't believe how expensive food was in the USA last time I was there.
I love the NHS. It's not perfect, but the US system is very broken too. My sister, who has great insurance in the USA, with a long history of autoimmune issues and allergies couldn't even get her insurance to cover some skin prick tests for issues she was having.
Car insurance is much cheaper.
I live in a tiny village in the Highlands and the air quality is fabulous. We get the Northern Lights sometimes.