Living costs in Melbourne
Jun 7th 2010, 4:15 pm
#1
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Living costs in Melbourne
Hi,
I was wondering what the living costs are like in Melbourne at the moment, here's my situation:
I'm 22 year old structural engineering student (working between my university studies for 2 years) and I've been offered a job in Melbourne for a year.
The pay isn't all that good: 500 Aus dollars/week, compared to what I was making in the UK for the last year: the equivalent of just over 1000 Aus dollars/week.
I don't pay taxes on any money I earn, so if I make 500 dollars/week, and pay for my own accomodation, will that leave me much for food, clothes, going out etc?
Thanks,
TW
I was wondering what the living costs are like in Melbourne at the moment, here's my situation:
I'm 22 year old structural engineering student (working between my university studies for 2 years) and I've been offered a job in Melbourne for a year.
The pay isn't all that good: 500 Aus dollars/week, compared to what I was making in the UK for the last year: the equivalent of just over 1000 Aus dollars/week.
I don't pay taxes on any money I earn, so if I make 500 dollars/week, and pay for my own accomodation, will that leave me much for food, clothes, going out etc?
Thanks,
TW
Jun 7th 2010, 6:27 pm
#2
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Mt Martha, Melbourne
Posts: 1,199
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
Hi there
I think you'll be hard pressed to rent on your own and have enough left to live on. Many places around the $200-300 mark can be pretty grotty - obviously depends on the area, if you can travel out from the west or outer suburbs then you may do okay but then you'll have extra travelling costs. Where abouts is the job you've been offered?
At your age you might want to consider a house/flat share as this will then help you make some friends and could be quite fun when you are young! We did this when we first arrived (friend of a friend, it was very useful but was getting to me after a few weeks!) but after living on our own for 20 odd years the shine soon wore off! You can find ads on Melbourne Gumtree or maybe someone on here or Britvics might have a room they rent out!
Sounds like a great opportunity so good luck!
I think you'll be hard pressed to rent on your own and have enough left to live on. Many places around the $200-300 mark can be pretty grotty - obviously depends on the area, if you can travel out from the west or outer suburbs then you may do okay but then you'll have extra travelling costs. Where abouts is the job you've been offered?
At your age you might want to consider a house/flat share as this will then help you make some friends and could be quite fun when you are young! We did this when we first arrived (friend of a friend, it was very useful but was getting to me after a few weeks!) but after living on our own for 20 odd years the shine soon wore off! You can find ads on Melbourne Gumtree or maybe someone on here or Britvics might have a room they rent out!
Sounds like a great opportunity so good luck!
Jun 7th 2010, 10:14 pm
#3
Recession Surfing 2006 ->
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Northern Edge of Melbourne
Posts: 1,254
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
Hi,
I was wondering what the living costs are like in Melbourne at the moment, here's my situation:
I'm 22 year old structural engineering student (working between my university studies for 2 years) and I've been offered a job in Melbourne for a year.
The pay isn't all that good: 500 Aus dollars/week, compared to what I was making in the UK for the last year: the equivalent of just over 1000 Aus dollars/week.
I don't pay taxes on any money I earn, so if I make 500 dollars/week, and pay for my own accomodation, will that leave me much for food, clothes, going out etc?
Thanks,
TW
I was wondering what the living costs are like in Melbourne at the moment, here's my situation:
I'm 22 year old structural engineering student (working between my university studies for 2 years) and I've been offered a job in Melbourne for a year.
The pay isn't all that good: 500 Aus dollars/week, compared to what I was making in the UK for the last year: the equivalent of just over 1000 Aus dollars/week.
I don't pay taxes on any money I earn, so if I make 500 dollars/week, and pay for my own accomodation, will that leave me much for food, clothes, going out etc?
Thanks,
TW
Where is the office?
Jun 8th 2010, 4:57 am
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2005
Location: Ex Southampton, now on the Mornington Peninsula
Posts: 257
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
Hi,
I was wondering what the living costs are like in Melbourne at the moment, here's my situation:
I'm 22 year old structural engineering student (working between my university studies for 2 years) and I've been offered a job in Melbourne for a year.
The pay isn't all that good: 500 Aus dollars/week, compared to what I was making in the UK for the last year: the equivalent of just over 1000 Aus dollars/week.
I don't pay taxes on any money I earn, so if I make 500 dollars/week, and pay for my own accomodation, will that leave me much for food, clothes, going out etc?
Thanks,
TW
I was wondering what the living costs are like in Melbourne at the moment, here's my situation:
I'm 22 year old structural engineering student (working between my university studies for 2 years) and I've been offered a job in Melbourne for a year.
The pay isn't all that good: 500 Aus dollars/week, compared to what I was making in the UK for the last year: the equivalent of just over 1000 Aus dollars/week.
I don't pay taxes on any money I earn, so if I make 500 dollars/week, and pay for my own accomodation, will that leave me much for food, clothes, going out etc?
Thanks,
TW
Good luck, it's good to see the younger ones amongst us having a go and doing something positive for themselves.
Jun 8th 2010, 5:17 am
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,048
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
I live near Oakleigh in SE Melbourne. My rent is $130/week for a room in a houseshare.
Bills are on top - about $20ish a week. Food, easy to spend $40 - $50 a week just on basic rubbish from supermarket.
So already you are looking at a basic minimum of $200 a week. Going out is expensive here. You will be looking at least $8 a pint of beer in a pub.
Bills are on top - about $20ish a week. Food, easy to spend $40 - $50 a week just on basic rubbish from supermarket.
So already you are looking at a basic minimum of $200 a week. Going out is expensive here. You will be looking at least $8 a pint of beer in a pub.
Jun 8th 2010, 4:39 pm
#7
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
I live near Oakleigh in SE Melbourne. My rent is $130/week for a room in a houseshare.
Bills are on top - about $20ish a week. Food, easy to spend $40 - $50 a week just on basic rubbish from supermarket.
So already you are looking at a basic minimum of $200 a week. Going out is expensive here. You will be looking at least $8 a pint of beer in a pub.
Bills are on top - about $20ish a week. Food, easy to spend $40 - $50 a week just on basic rubbish from supermarket.
So already you are looking at a basic minimum of $200 a week. Going out is expensive here. You will be looking at least $8 a pint of beer in a pub.
Jun 8th 2010, 5:04 pm
#8
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
Hi there
I think you'll be hard pressed to rent on your own and have enough left to live on. Many places around the $200-300 mark can be pretty grotty - obviously depends on the area, if you can travel out from the west or outer suburbs then you may do okay but then you'll have extra travelling costs. Where abouts is the job you've been offered?
At your age you might want to consider a house/flat share as this will then help you make some friends and could be quite fun when you are young! We did this when we first arrived (friend of a friend, it was very useful but was getting to me after a few weeks!) but after living on our own for 20 odd years the shine soon wore off! You can find ads on Melbourne Gumtree or maybe someone on here or Britvics might have a room they rent out!
Sounds like a great opportunity so good luck!
I think you'll be hard pressed to rent on your own and have enough left to live on. Many places around the $200-300 mark can be pretty grotty - obviously depends on the area, if you can travel out from the west or outer suburbs then you may do okay but then you'll have extra travelling costs. Where abouts is the job you've been offered?
At your age you might want to consider a house/flat share as this will then help you make some friends and could be quite fun when you are young! We did this when we first arrived (friend of a friend, it was very useful but was getting to me after a few weeks!) but after living on our own for 20 odd years the shine soon wore off! You can find ads on Melbourne Gumtree or maybe someone on here or Britvics might have a room they rent out!
Sounds like a great opportunity so good luck!
I'm really qute surprised at those prices. I haven't yet accepted the job. It's in a suburb about 3 or 4 km north of the centre of Melbourne.
My biggest concern is meeting other people my own age!
Jun 8th 2010, 5:10 pm
#9
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Re: Living costs in Melbourne
Just out of interest what visa are you coming over on? If it's a WHV you may have problems as you can't work for the same employer for that length of time. Melbourne certainly isn't cheap but if your prepared to share and not have to much spare cash then you probably could manage, most students here wouldn't earn more than that and somehow they manage. And before someone jumps in and says thats because they all get government handouts, I have two sons at uni and that certainly is not the case!!!
Good luck, it's good to see the younger ones amongst us having a go and doing something positive for themselves.
Good luck, it's good to see the younger ones amongst us having a go and doing something positive for themselves.
I don't know anything about the VISA yet, it's all arranged by the host company, I have not yet accepted the job.
My other concern is meeting other people my age that I can go out with.
Jun 8th 2010, 8:12 pm
#10
Melbourne - NE suburbs
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,032
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
Jun 8th 2010, 10:30 pm
#11
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Posts: 1,048
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is that way and Monash has a campus in Parkville - so I'm sure there'll be lots of students in your direction.
Jun 9th 2010, 1:08 am
#13
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Jun 9th 2010, 3:16 am
#14
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Posts: 397
Re: Living costs in Melbourne
), st Kilda is cheaper than many areas. I pay $400 a week for a 3 bedder in hampton, so id tell that someone to look somewhere else, you should'nt need to pay more than $150 for a shared room, and if you are a student and happy to live Northern suburbs youll get one for $100 a week easily.
Jun 9th 2010, 4:56 am
#15
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Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Northern Edge of Melbourne
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Re: Living costs in Melbourne
if your mate is paying 300 for a shared room he is getting majorly ripped off (unless it is Rippponlea Manor ), st Kilda is cheaper than many areas. I pay $400 a week for a 3 bedder in hampton, so id tell that someone to look somewhere else, you should'nt need to pay more than $150 for a shared room, and if you are a student and happy to live Northern suburbs youll get one for $100 a week easily.
), st Kilda is cheaper than many areas. I pay $400 a week for a 3 bedder in hampton, so id tell that someone to look somewhere else, you should'nt need to pay more than $150 for a shared room, and if you are a student and happy to live Northern suburbs youll get one for $100 a week easily.
