Originally Posted by jimbo_d

Plenty of cheap places in Northbridge and in the CBD where you can eat for less than $20

Originally Posted by OzExpat

Yes, it's pretty damn expensive now! I've lived in Oz, the UK and now the USA and in my experience Oz has the highest cost of living.



I doubt very much you'll find something in a decent area of Melbourne or Sydney for $1400 a month. You'd have to be in outer suburbs to get that.

There are markets like Queen Vic in Melbourne, but I didn't find it very cheap when I was last there. Public transit seemed reasonable in Melbourne though.

Originally Posted by Coryate

When I moved to the UK 10 years ago, I thought it was so expensive, then after a while I learned how and where to buy stuff cheaper.

But in general cars are cheaper, and better quality in the UK, as are Whitegoods, clothes, and books.

We also have a greater variety of items here, due to the larger population, and much less distance before the citys.

Stuff on ebay is amazingly cheap in the UK, I've bought clothes for my son, toys,books and electonic gear, and again it's the variety that is amazing.

I also lived in NZ in the early 90s and that was more expensive than Australia, and the UK, it was distance and population issues again. Almost all the food came from Australia, and there was a booming business importing 2nd hand clothes from the US.

Now...back to looking for more toys to stick in that shipping container.

Originally Posted by the troubadour

Agree.UK cheaper these days for so many things.Years ago it was the reverse.
New books for example often cost what a secondhand book would cost in OZ. Eating out has become absurd at least in Perth,in terms of quality and price as well as often than not the lack of ambiance.
One can wonder exactly why Australia has changed so rapidly from being a fair and affordable country for almost all only a decade ago to what it has become now..a greedy,overpriced ,poor service delivery nation.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

I had a curry in a Wetherspoon pub that you could tell had just been heated in a microwave and the chicken had no taste - it was disgusting.

Originally Posted by Deancm_MKII

What did you expect from a Wetherspoon's pub? They are renowned for their el-cheapo 5 quid shit! That's why they are usually full of pensioners.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

I dunno what I was expecting, I'd never eaten at one before. The point I was making is that although food may be cheaper over there, it does not mean it's better.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Yes, there are some great Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese places around there where you could eat well for $15.

Originally Posted by joh117

It really is that expensive. We shop at Aldi as we cant afford to shop at coles or woolies and we are not on a bad income but our home loan takes more than 50% of our income and we are in an entry level home in Brisbane outer suburbs.

I found the UK much cheaper when I was back in Nov 09 and I now shop on ebay in the UK for kids shoes, swimwear and a few other bits and pieces. I also shop online in the UK and either pay the postage or get it sent to the rellies and have them forward it to me

Jo

Originally Posted by the troubadour

Agree. Find also most social activities in Australia not at all cheap.

Originally Posted by JenniGee

Well, I don't know why everyone doesn't make their way to the Espy & check it out

Originally Posted by Davesax

Number one social activity has to be the barbie . There are free click on barbies evrrywhere in Perth . There are also countless free activiities for kids and families, and parks to die for .

This thread has turned into Aus V UK price comparison , with a lot of contradicting views, must be confusing for potential immigrants . Smacks of whinging pommes if you ask me .

Shopping in the UK and getting rellies to send it has to be false economy?