Australia the most expensive country in the World?
May 15th 2010, 11:39 pm
#16
Pie Eater
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: South Australia
Posts: 770
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
Its as expensive as you want to make it.........................we haven't had a problem.
Been here nearly 4 years, have a beautiful house, decent pre-loved car, eat out at least once a week,can afford weekends away and holidays and certainly don't scrimp on food and drinks etc and we haven't got mega paying jobs.
I work in a pharmacy and hubby works for QLD government but our standard of living is way above what we had in the UK.
Public transport is much cheaper as is fuel, utilities are way cheaper, and if you are a canny shopper (not buying everything from Aldi........in fact we don't use Aldi) your food bill need not be huge. We find fresh meat and seafood cheaper and a lot better quality.
Been here nearly 4 years, have a beautiful house, decent pre-loved car, eat out at least once a week,can afford weekends away and holidays and certainly don't scrimp on food and drinks etc and we haven't got mega paying jobs.
I work in a pharmacy and hubby works for QLD government but our standard of living is way above what we had in the UK.
Public transport is much cheaper as is fuel, utilities are way cheaper, and if you are a canny shopper (not buying everything from Aldi........in fact we don't use Aldi) your food bill need not be huge. We find fresh meat and seafood cheaper and a lot better quality.
May 16th 2010, 12:04 am
#18
Pie Eater
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: South Australia
Posts: 770
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
There's nothing like brick veneer (or as thin).
May 16th 2010, 12:53 am
#19
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 313
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
Short answer "No". Go and live in Norway. Then you'd have something to moan about.
May 16th 2010, 12:58 am
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Dullsville
Posts: 672
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
You need a family income of at least $100K just to get by in Perth. This is with a mortgage or rent around the $500 a week. Take home on a $100K salary is around $1400 a week. $900 a week left for food, fuel, bills, extras like clothing, shoes.
If you add private schools fees, private medical insurance, life, illness, trauma insurance then add another $20K approx on top.
If you add private schools fees, private medical insurance, life, illness, trauma insurance then add another $20K approx on top.
May 16th 2010, 1:07 am
#22
In New Yorshire
Joined: Feb 2001
Location: Onkapringa Hills,South Austalia
Posts: 300
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
We've been here 10 years and seen prices rise to a certain extent.
Not gonna moan about it though.
It's worth it by payback of quality of life.
We worked like hell to pay off our debts in the UK asap,we don't live on credit.
Shopping around helps here.
After all it is a different country and things are different here.
If people just came over because it was cheap and they thought it would fund a mega lifestyle I reckon they are in for trouble.
Not gonna moan about it though.
It's worth it by payback of quality of life.
We worked like hell to pay off our debts in the UK asap,we don't live on credit.
Shopping around helps here.
After all it is a different country and things are different here.
If people just came over because it was cheap and they thought it would fund a mega lifestyle I reckon they are in for trouble.
May 16th 2010, 1:09 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 192
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
I certainly think so, been in Victoria for 6 weeks and compared to the UK I have not found a single thing cheaper except for fuel. You need to be earning megabucks to buy even the basic of items here,food is x2-4 times more expensive. Public transport is almost non-existent and forget owning a new car unless you're lucky to win the lottery. I thought the UK was bad for exploitation, even worse here. 
May 16th 2010, 1:45 am
#25
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,855
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
OZ is the best country in the world so maybe thats why its the most expensive
May 16th 2010, 2:10 am
#27
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Perth
Posts: 3,453
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
You need a family income of at least $100K just to get by in Perth. This is with a mortgage or rent around the $500 a week. Take home on a $100K salary is around $1400 a week. $900 a week left for food, fuel, bills, extras like clothing, shoes.
If you add private schools fees, private medical insurance, life, illness, trauma insurance then add another $20K approx on top.
If you add private schools fees, private medical insurance, life, illness, trauma insurance then add another $20K approx on top.
You can do it for less but you'd either have to have a very low mortgage or live in an undesirable area.
A rental/mortgage of about $500 week and $100K would not leave much for extras - holidays would probably be a bit of a rarity.
May 16th 2010, 2:25 am
#28
Pie Eater
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: South Australia
Posts: 770
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
Only problem is I only end up with half my shopping list, as they don't usually have the whole range. So it ends up with me going to 2 supermarkets.
Last edited by coolshadows; May 16th 2010 at 2:33 am.
May 16th 2010, 2:31 am
#29
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
Jesus, airport staff are good these days.
Last edited by DeadVim; May 16th 2010 at 2:33 am. Reason: 'cos some pedant will point out that check-in is before the 'departure lounge' and my wit, such as it is, will be diminished
May 16th 2010, 3:04 am
#30
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23,400
Re: Australia the most expensive country in the World?
I certainly think so, been in Victoria for 6 weeks and compared to the UK I have not found a single thing cheaper except for fuel. You need to be earning megabucks to buy even the basic of items here,food is x2-4 times more expensive. Public transport is almost non-existent and forget owning a new car unless you're lucky to win the lottery. I thought the UK was bad for exploitation, even worse here.
Im sorry but it makes absolutely no sense to compare prices to England. I have a fat mortgage and a 3 bedroom duplex, it aint a palace but at least we are buying it and its our home.
I could never ever have afforded a house back in England and yes, we enjoyed the first home buyers grant and the 2 grand from REIBA, so while we have a big mortgage, we are still paying our way and enjoying our lives with what is on offer to us where we live now and not in England.
You make the best and adapt to what you have here but to keep comparing to the UK will get you nowhere.
And no I am not on megabucks either.
