Is Australia really THAT expensive?
Jul 9th 2010, 8:40 am
#46
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,628
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
$25 a kilo for legs of lamb, I'm refusing to buy them at the moment because my butchers quoting $13 a kilo
Jul 9th 2010, 8:41 am
#47
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,442
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
Interestingly I moved from St kilda to brunswick. I was paying $370/wk for my two bed flat in st kilda. OK it wasn't the nicest flat in st kilda (no balcony - thats why I moved). But you could prob get a nice one for $450/wk. Only about 5 or 6 couples can to the viewing when we were leaving the flat so not such high demand.
OK it wasn't the nicest flat in st kilda
Jul 9th 2010, 8:44 am
#48
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
I wasn't hugely impressed by being quoted nearly $2000 for a set of tyres this Tuesday 
That was more than double the UK price... no idea why I bothered to check.. but it was about $208 each from Kwik Fit UK and $489 each here !
I settled for ToYo tyres rather than Dunlop.. brought the price down to 'only' $1200
That was more than double the UK price... no idea why I bothered to check.. but it was about $208 each from Kwik Fit UK and $489 each here !
I settled for ToYo tyres rather than Dunlop.. brought the price down to 'only' $1200
My wife got her falcon reshod on Yokohomos for about 400.
It's all variable - my car insurance in Australia is in dollars what I paid in pounds.
Some things I do find more expensive tend to be one in a 5 year/10 year event. I find much of the day to day stuff comparable - apart from the things I have listed many times over.
You do get what you pay for - as my tyre op said - he wouldn't put some tyres on his daughter's pushchair..
Jul 9th 2010, 8:47 am
#49
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Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1,628
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
I'm moving to Australia in December this year to go to Uni while my wife works. I'm now starting to worry because everywhere I look online and every person I know is acting like Australia is the most expensive place on earth to live.
I use to think Toronto was expensive, but it seems cheap in comparison to Australia. $1000 a month all inclusive for a 1 bedroom apartment in a great area, $40 for internet, buying groceries from our little china town where food is so cheap it feels like you're actually traveling through Asia. As long as you don't own a car here, you can live like a king on a modest salary if you're smart with your money.
I guess my question is, are there deals to be found in cities like Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney? For example, if you look around can you find a reasonably priced 1 bedroom flat (no more than $1400/month), are there areas like our china town where food is cheaper? How about farmers markets, are those common? And how about public transportation, how much is it per ride or per month for a pass in any of those cities?
cheers
I use to think Toronto was expensive, but it seems cheap in comparison to Australia. $1000 a month all inclusive for a 1 bedroom apartment in a great area, $40 for internet, buying groceries from our little china town where food is so cheap it feels like you're actually traveling through Asia. As long as you don't own a car here, you can live like a king on a modest salary if you're smart with your money.
I guess my question is, are there deals to be found in cities like Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney? For example, if you look around can you find a reasonably priced 1 bedroom flat (no more than $1400/month), are there areas like our china town where food is cheaper? How about farmers markets, are those common? And how about public transportation, how much is it per ride or per month for a pass in any of those cities?
cheers
Food wise I don't use Chinatown but have learnt in my area where to buy. Rump steaks I pay $10.70 for (good quality but in bulk), potatoes & onions are $8 for a 10 kilo bag and veg I buy whatever is in season (last week was broccoli at $1.30/kilo and cauliflower at $2 each). Farmers markets exist in Sydney but generally aren't cheap (although the quality can be excellent)
Aus is definitely expensive if you go to the majors but if you shop around then you learn where to get the quality stuff for at a good price.
Jul 9th 2010, 9:46 am
#50
Pie Eater
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: South Australia
Posts: 770
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
Is Australia really THAT expensive?
Fully comp car insurance + exeptionally high rego (road tax).
Dentistry (those used to NHS dentists will have a shock).
House prices
lawnmowers
broadband (you'll laugh at the speed too)
Electricity Bills
Nappies / Wipes
Childcare
(...I'm not adding any more - it's depressing
)(1 exception: If you live in London then the answer is likely NO)
Jul 9th 2010, 10:32 am
#51
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,442
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
I lived in London (E2) and I had a shock when I arrived back in Melbourne, so as far as London is concerned I would say it is also a "YES!".
I especially couldn't believe the price of a pint. Some pints I have been charged $17 for. WTF!!!
I especially couldn't believe the price of a pint. Some pints I have been charged $17 for. WTF!!!
Jul 9th 2010, 10:49 am
#52
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
I got Toyos all round on a 4x4 ute for c. 600.
My wife got her falcon reshod on Yokohomos for about 400.
It's all variable - my car insurance in Australia is in dollars what I paid in pounds.
Some things I do find more expensive tend to be one in a 5 year/10 year event. I find much of the day to day stuff comparable - apart from the things I have listed many times over.
You do get what you pay for - as my tyre op said - he wouldn't put some tyres on his daughter's pushchair..
My wife got her falcon reshod on Yokohomos for about 400.
It's all variable - my car insurance in Australia is in dollars what I paid in pounds.
Some things I do find more expensive tend to be one in a 5 year/10 year event. I find much of the day to day stuff comparable - apart from the things I have listed many times over.
You do get what you pay for - as my tyre op said - he wouldn't put some tyres on his daughter's pushchair..
Jul 9th 2010, 12:21 pm
#53
pink 'n' bouncy
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Zombie nation
Posts: 6,087
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
YES
Fully comp car insurance + exeptionally high rego (road tax).
Dentistry (those used to NHS dentists will have a shock).
House prices
lawnmowers
broadband (you'll laugh at the speed too)
Electricity Bills
Nappies / Wipes
Childcare
(...I'm not adding any more - it's depressing)
(1 exception: If you live in London then the answer is likely NO)
Fully comp car insurance + exeptionally high rego (road tax).
Dentistry (those used to NHS dentists will have a shock).
House prices
lawnmowers
broadband (you'll laugh at the speed too)
Electricity Bills
Nappies / Wipes
Childcare
(...I'm not adding any more - it's depressing
)(1 exception: If you live in London then the answer is likely NO)
quality
Jul 9th 2010, 1:15 pm
#54
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
Indeed. My 5bhp Tornado was just over 500 bucks 6 years ago.
Someone tell me what they are now!
On paying out for expensive things - what's a good Bosch frontloader cost in GBP. Ours was c AUS700 I think 2 years ago.
Not cheap.
Someone tell me what they are now!
On paying out for expensive things - what's a good Bosch frontloader cost in GBP. Ours was c AUS700 I think 2 years ago.
Not cheap.
Jul 9th 2010, 1:26 pm
#55
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
Depends where you come from and go to.
www.speedtest.net shows :
Countries Ranked by Speed (average)
And that may also be the same for other things on the list.
www.speedtest.net shows :
Countries Ranked by Speed (average)
- 35 United Kingdom 7.69 Mb/s
- 41 Australia 7.07 Mb/s
And that may also be the same for other things on the list.
Jul 9th 2010, 1:31 pm
#56
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
11 bucks for 4 litres of Stanley cask ... it's ruinous here.
Jul 9th 2010, 1:39 pm
#58
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
4 Cyl car in QLD
$317.45 Registration fee and Traffic improvement fee
$337.00 CTP insurance premium
$400.29 Fully Comp Ins, and the total for one of our cars is:
$1,054.74, for Rego and Fully Comp Insurance. (just under 1 weeks ave wage)
Not sure how that compares to the UK now.
$317.45 Registration fee and Traffic improvement fee
$337.00 CTP insurance premium
$400.29 Fully Comp Ins, and the total for one of our cars is:
$1,054.74, for Rego and Fully Comp Insurance. (just under 1 weeks ave wage)
Not sure how that compares to the UK now.
Jul 9th 2010, 1:43 pm
#59
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Is Australia really THAT expensive?
Jul 9th 2010, 1:43 pm
#60
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Posts: 15,109