Amazulu

A bit more nerdy than that - Radio-controlled planes, helicopters and cars

The general consensus (whinge) on BE is that everything is more expensive in Australia compared to the UK, and it's just not true

Again, there's actual cost at current XR and then there's PPP (when you look at Per Capita GDP with PPP, Australia is ahead of the UK). Both are valid but one is more relevant than the other

Zen10

Ah, I have a radio-controlled helicopter. To be honest I never fly it and now the aerial on the controller seems to have gone walkabout. I must by another one and see if I can keep it in the air for more than 20 seconds.

asher

my wood carving tools are exactly one and a half times more expensive than the UK! But I do use quality pfeil chisels.

verystormy

I live in Oz but dont work there and am paid the same salary as i would if i was still in the UK. I find Oz incredibly expensive.

Chortlepuss

Basic cost of everyday living slightly more expensive in Oz than UK when you factor in wages. Once you start buying stuff (in my case clothes, holidays) cost in Oz substantially higher. In UK at the moment and will be taking back lots of shoes! Quality shoes I find 3-4 times more in Oz than UK. Holidays not fair to compare as such great distances - but if travelling is your thing it will be a bit of a shock!

Mike at Taree

Rents are fairly similar for what you get, where it's possible to compare locations. Here I compare a couple of locations I'm familiar with: sleepy little Alnmouth, Northumbria, with my own location which have a bit in common: village, beach, holiday destination in a provincial area not too far from major towns etc.

What you get for about 250 bucks.

Alnmouth

Old Bar Beach NSW

I find that large cities outside London, such as Leeds, Newcastle Upon Tyne and Cardiff for example have similar rentals to regional places here like Wollongong, Newcastle etc. If you make allowances for compareing terraced houses and traditional semis against stand alone houses and duplexes.

RedDragon2008

if you don't want to constantly buy "made in China" items, then Australia is definitely dearer on the hip pocket. It's a known fact that airline tickets for going overseas are dearer too.

alipally

I start off thinking that everything is more expensive..... I have a much more active social life here. ( having discovered the delights of an espresso martini!) and we eat out at least twice a week......

The strange thing is that there's always a sizeable chunk of money left at the end of the month after paying bills putting away slush fund money etc.....

So our salaries seem to go quite a bit further!

BadgeIsBack

agreed

BadgeIsBack

There are things cheaper in both countries, it is highly variable on earning power and basket of goods, both countries have seen rapid price increases.

There is a basket of usual suspects, groceries, clothes, fuxtures and fittings, books.
I would still like to know labour rates for Uk.

eddie007

Quilting fabrics stoop idly over priced here... But they are in the uk too

Amazulu

That's the kind of thing that that I was talking about earlier - way more expensive here. Saying that, I tend to buy tools online from Germany, USA or Japan - always cheaper than UK/Australia

denzil73

UK labour rates are substantially less than in Oz. This is why UK tradies like to move here. Better wages for doing much less work.

For instance I can get an average size car resprayed for 2grand in UK but look at 6grand easy here. And labour is the main cost in that eqaution.

Alex87

The salary is better than average in the UK. For example I am a early childhood educator and in Australia I earned $21 per hour as a educator with preschool children. In the UK I earn £9 per hour as a deputy manager in a nursery. So my qualification is worth more here than Australia although in Australia I got paid more for less responsibility in my job. Groceries and clothes are much cheaper here in the UK and fashion is way better. However the lifestyle in Australia wins hands down and being able to afford a beautiful 4 bed property with a private pool as opposed to a 2 bedroom property for the same price in London. So really its about weighing up your priorities in life!

Bermudashorts

Well clearly the standard of living is better here for you, I think just feeling better and enjoying your life more here is enough evidence. But re your given rationale ... you seem to be comparing salaries at current exchange rates rather than the purchasing power of the respective salaries? And unfortunately we cannot all get a 4 bed property with a private pool so easily, try doing that in Sydney in a decent area, well over $1m.