BadgeIsBack

But many people know what they earn in the UK and what sort of salary they might get.

It goes without saying, exchange rates are still highly valuable for people who derive any sort of income from the UK, or bring over capital.

fish.01

Of course if you have personal figures, use them. For general comparisons, and for people without personal figures the broader numbers are better than nothing. They offer a quick guide to whether your new salary is at all comparable to your current salary, for example.

Yes, my comment about exchange rates being totally useless is re comparing costs/salaries. Naturally converting assets or pensions paid in another country are affected by the rate of exchange.

neil248

Bear in mind that Australia is a high wage economy for average people.

Minimum wage here for adult is au $15.96 per hour. Don't actually know of anyone earning that little.

UK minimum for adult wage uk pound 6.19 @ 1.5 = au $9.20 Don't know if that is common or not.

Centrelink is also very generous so if you have kids a low Aussie wage is not much of an obstacle to a decent life.

We have pretty average incomes and don't even get centrelink so you would have to be going some not to survive in this nanny state.

arkon

Just couldn't sit back and idly let someone contemplate coming here thinking its the land that glitters gold. My electricity bill for last year was nearly 3000 dollars. My Uk electric never came close to that and my house was always warm. Ive never lived in such a cold house here that is way too hot in summer and unless I use copious amounts of electricity to heat/cool the house its almost unbearable.

Then there is the ever present cry on here of 'go to Oz for a better family life' what a croc, you can have a great life with your kids in the UK if you make time for them, moving here doesn't suddenly make you a better parent.

BadgeIsBack

3000 bucks, what the hell are you doing!
As for moving here, it's up to the individuals, some people enjoy the lifestyle but noone can be held responsible when it doesn't work out and they're not equipped for it.

arkon

Oh you know, things like turning lights on, cooking, heating, cooling,tv, computers etc. if electric goes up anymore it will be time to get out the candles! Ive already smashed my head into a door frame because I was trying to keep the lights switched off, nearly broke my toe walking into the bed posts, its like I've been electrically taxed back into the tone age!

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Just to back up one of the other old posters on here, making a surprise comeback, my bill was MORE than $3000. I pay $155 a fortnight !!

neil248

$118 per fortnight electricity.

Don't know if Arkon has been back to the UK lately but was certainly more downbeat when we went compared to sunny QLD

arkon

Yes I went back 12 months ago and loved it. Everyone was moaning though but a trip to tesco soon proved they had nothing really to moan about. Good choice and very cheap. I used the opportunity to eat a few ton of chocolate and crisps.
Plenty of walks in beautiful green countryside too. If I could I would return in an instant and never look back.

Amazulu

Life's too short to live in anger and be unhappy like you do

Chill dude

xizzles

Grass is always greener, so they say....

ianandhelena

So,you know how to pee when your man has left the seat up?

chris955

Its all very subjective, the weather for instance is 'better' for everyone in Australia. Im not that bothered by the cold but sweat like a pig in the heat but having said the only place I would live in Australia is Brisbane with its high humidity. The cost of living in Australia rose dramatically in the last 8 to 10 years, there is no escaping that fact. We are finding things generally cheaper here, most food much cheaper with far more range but that is just a bonus.
Another poster mentioned the minimum wage, when you use a sensible exchange rate there is little difference and many people survive on it in both countries, it should arguably be higher but thats the way it is. Some people earn more in Australia, others earn more in the UK and the remainder earn about the same. Comparisons are really hard to make. Australia wont magically give anyone a better life, its not a better place to bring up kids and there are most of the same problems the rest of the world has. Australia can be a great place to live for many but not for others. Nowhere is one size fits all.
Each country has huge advantages over the other so in the end it just comes down to whichever suits you more.

lesleys

The electricity co. pays us since we went solar.

OP - Have you looked to see if you will be eligible for a visa? Have a look at the Immigration forum.

BadgeIsBack

Do you have kids with you now? A wife?

Our bill was always 400 a quarter - maybe 600, once 700 in winter and we don't have gas. It's now about 350 a year with solar.