Cost of Living and Decent Salary
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Hi,
Is the cost of living really that cheap in Australia at the moment? Let's use Sydney and the surrounding areas (Manly?) as an example?
I'm keen to find out whether things are that much cheaper than in the UK, does anyone have any up-to-date figures ?
Also, in view of the above, what would be considered a decent salary in order to have a fairly comfortable lifestyle?
I'm considering moving in the next couple of years, depending on whether it will be financially a good move or not. Obviously the lifestyle is the main reason for moving but I plan to do plenty of research on the numbers beforehand..
I'm working in an accountancy -type role at the moment although i'm not qualified, but earn a reasonable salary of £26K pa.
My wife and I are expecting our 1st child next year so we will be surviving on 1 salary. This will be the same scenario if we moved to Australia.
Cheers!
Is the cost of living really that cheap in Australia at the moment? Let's use Sydney and the surrounding areas (Manly?) as an example?
I'm keen to find out whether things are that much cheaper than in the UK, does anyone have any up-to-date figures ?
Also, in view of the above, what would be considered a decent salary in order to have a fairly comfortable lifestyle?
I'm considering moving in the next couple of years, depending on whether it will be financially a good move or not. Obviously the lifestyle is the main reason for moving but I plan to do plenty of research on the numbers beforehand..
I'm working in an accountancy -type role at the moment although i'm not qualified, but earn a reasonable salary of £26K pa.
My wife and I are expecting our 1st child next year so we will be surviving on 1 salary. This will be the same scenario if we moved to Australia.
Cheers!
#2
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Simple answer - no. You would need rather more than $52k to have a comfortable lifestyle in Manly. Sydney is horribly expensive. You could start by checking out rentals
Qualifications are key around here too so you may need to look into getting some pieces of paper to your name
Qualifications are key around here too so you may need to look into getting some pieces of paper to your name
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 623
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Hi,
Is the cost of living really that cheap in Australia at the moment? Let's use Sydney and the surrounding areas (Manly?) as an example?
I'm keen to find out whether things are that much cheaper than in the UK, does anyone have any up-to-date figures ?
Also, in view of the above, what would be considered a decent salary in order to have a fairly comfortable lifestyle?
I'm considering moving in the next couple of years, depending on whether it will be financially a good move or not. Obviously the lifestyle is the main reason for moving but I plan to do plenty of research on the numbers beforehand..
I'm working in an accountancy -type role at the moment although i'm not qualified, but earn a reasonable salary of £26K pa.
My wife and I are expecting our 1st child next year so we will be surviving on 1 salary. This will be the same scenario if we moved to Australia.
Cheers!
Is the cost of living really that cheap in Australia at the moment? Let's use Sydney and the surrounding areas (Manly?) as an example?
I'm keen to find out whether things are that much cheaper than in the UK, does anyone have any up-to-date figures ?
Also, in view of the above, what would be considered a decent salary in order to have a fairly comfortable lifestyle?
I'm considering moving in the next couple of years, depending on whether it will be financially a good move or not. Obviously the lifestyle is the main reason for moving but I plan to do plenty of research on the numbers beforehand..
I'm working in an accountancy -type role at the moment although i'm not qualified, but earn a reasonable salary of £26K pa.
My wife and I are expecting our 1st child next year so we will be surviving on 1 salary. This will be the same scenario if we moved to Australia.
Cheers!
Depends where you end up working really. If it's not in the city you can live further out of town and closer to work and get a house for $500. I wouldn't commute to fair to the city though, theres about 3 million people trying to get in there at 8am in the mornings.
#4
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Hi there
If you are looking at the Northern Beaches then you might just about get a decent 2 bed apartment for $450 a week in rent. To buy the same apartment you'd need at least $500k - these are minimums as I've been looking up there for years!
You'd probably have to live around Dee Why or on the outskirts of Manly to get something a bit larger if you want to be on the coast which would involve a bus down to Manly to catch the ferry or a bus across to Chatswood to get the train in.
If you are renting you won't have to pay rates or strata fees - just gas, electricity, water etc.
Public transport is fairly cheap and you can buy a weekly ticket which covers you for ferry, train and bus for around $47.
As Quoll said you would need to be qualified to apply for a visa and keep checking the Immigration site as they keep changing the rules and as I understand it you now have to be on the critical skills list to stand any chance of getting one - or you could come over if you find someone to sponsor you. Sorry to be a bit down on this one but it would seem it's getting even harder to get into this place now!
Sydney can be expensive especially in the touristy areas. However, I've found that if you don't go to a cafe on the seafront in Manly and go around the corner your coffee is 50c cheaper. They charge 10% extra on a Sunday which really bugs me though! Once you are out of the touristy areas and a bit futher up the coast then normal prices kick in.
Good luck!
KK
If you are looking at the Northern Beaches then you might just about get a decent 2 bed apartment for $450 a week in rent. To buy the same apartment you'd need at least $500k - these are minimums as I've been looking up there for years!
You'd probably have to live around Dee Why or on the outskirts of Manly to get something a bit larger if you want to be on the coast which would involve a bus down to Manly to catch the ferry or a bus across to Chatswood to get the train in.
If you are renting you won't have to pay rates or strata fees - just gas, electricity, water etc.
Public transport is fairly cheap and you can buy a weekly ticket which covers you for ferry, train and bus for around $47.
As Quoll said you would need to be qualified to apply for a visa and keep checking the Immigration site as they keep changing the rules and as I understand it you now have to be on the critical skills list to stand any chance of getting one - or you could come over if you find someone to sponsor you. Sorry to be a bit down on this one but it would seem it's getting even harder to get into this place now!
Sydney can be expensive especially in the touristy areas. However, I've found that if you don't go to a cafe on the seafront in Manly and go around the corner your coffee is 50c cheaper. They charge 10% extra on a Sunday which really bugs me though! Once you are out of the touristy areas and a bit futher up the coast then normal prices kick in.
Good luck!
KK
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Average Male Full time total earnings:
May 2009
Australia: $70,038 per year.
UK: £27,552 per year.
May 2009
Australia: $70,038 per year.
UK: £27,552 per year.
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
My view is that looking at average incomes assumes that lifestyles are comparable and the cost of living is the same. I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs when I say it's actually hard to quantify.
My approach, which can be used with your approach, is just to work out salary bands in the person's area of expertise, and secondary areas - and then to work out what proportion of income is needed to buy certain goods or services compared to salary bands in the UK. (It might well be that the person in the UK is underpaid and knows that, or is on the edge of an anticipated increase).
I reckon people should use as many metrics and measures as they can get their hands on!
#7
Banned
Joined: May 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 564
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
If you earn an average wage and want to live in Manly, Eastern suburbs or North Shore, be prepared to live in a below average house.
I haven't found anything in my time here which is comparatively cheaper than in the UK.
I suppose it's the price you pay for having that dream of a better lifestyle??!!
I haven't found anything in my time here which is comparatively cheaper than in the UK.
I suppose it's the price you pay for having that dream of a better lifestyle??!!
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Nothing at all ? That does surprise me.
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Woodvale, WA
Posts: 1,674
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Some fruit is possibly cheaper and fuel. Nothing much else cheaper in Perth I don't think.
#10
Banned
Joined: May 2009
Location: Thailand
Posts: 49
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Amazing. $400-600 a week for a two bed apartment ?
I used to rent a real nice 3 bedroom town house just outside Noosa for $220 a week and a four bedder in the Redlands for $250-300 a week. All I can say is I'm glad I don't have to work in Sydney
I used to rent a real nice 3 bedroom town house just outside Noosa for $220 a week and a four bedder in the Redlands for $250-300 a week. All I can say is I'm glad I don't have to work in Sydney
#11
Banned
Joined: May 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 564
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
I apologise! Yes, Fruit in some place is cheaper and better quality and of course fuel although this does vary depending on day of week sometimes by 20 cents. Eating out is comparable in price but generally higher standard.
#12
Re: Cost of Living and Decent Salary
Hi,
Is the cost of living really that cheap in Australia at the moment? Let's use Sydney and the surrounding areas (Manly?) as an example?
I'm keen to find out whether things are that much cheaper than in the UK, does anyone have any up-to-date figures ?
Also, in view of the above, what would be considered a decent salary in order to have a fairly comfortable lifestyle?
I'm considering moving in the next couple of years, depending on whether it will be financially a good move or not. Obviously the lifestyle is the main reason for moving but I plan to do plenty of research on the numbers beforehand..
I'm working in an accountancy -type role at the moment although i'm not qualified, but earn a reasonable salary of £26K pa.
My wife and I are expecting our 1st child next year so we will be surviving on 1 salary. This will be the same scenario if we moved to Australia.
Cheers!
Is the cost of living really that cheap in Australia at the moment? Let's use Sydney and the surrounding areas (Manly?) as an example?
I'm keen to find out whether things are that much cheaper than in the UK, does anyone have any up-to-date figures ?
Also, in view of the above, what would be considered a decent salary in order to have a fairly comfortable lifestyle?
I'm considering moving in the next couple of years, depending on whether it will be financially a good move or not. Obviously the lifestyle is the main reason for moving but I plan to do plenty of research on the numbers beforehand..
I'm working in an accountancy -type role at the moment although i'm not qualified, but earn a reasonable salary of £26K pa.
My wife and I are expecting our 1st child next year so we will be surviving on 1 salary. This will be the same scenario if we moved to Australia.
Cheers!
The cost of living can only be evaluated with reference to your income *here* - the exchange rate isn't relevant to most people. (It *is* to me - my pension payments have gone down by 23% since October last year ).
I think you might be quite surprised at the cost of living here if you have been used to thinking of Australia as being a cheap place to live, but of course it all depends on your individual lifestyle.