danskitt

Hi all,

I am planning to move to Sydney with my Australian partner and 18 month old daughter. Two areas that concern me though is work and cost of living.

Work - I have worked for my self for 8 years owning a printers for 5 years and running a kitchen fitting business for the last 3 years. My problem is though that I don't have any qualifications. How do you think it would be trying to find work without qualifications in any field and what salary could I expect?

Cost of living - We will be a family of three (looking to be four) how much could we realistically be looking to be paying out per month for everything, like rent, utilities car etc.

Thanks
Dan

DEEDEE01

Hi Dan,

Welcome to BE

Not too sure about the Sydney area as we are moving to Perth.

Have you tried looking around the following sites:

www.realestate.com.au (rental / buying costs)
www.aldi.com.au (food costs)
www.seek.com.au (job ideas / salaries)

Just a few websites I have looked at, purely for basic ideas of what the costs are.


Hope this will be of some help, but like us, you will never know the true cost until you arrive and put everyting into practice.

If I was in your shoes I think I would seek more info on the job front before anything else.

Donna.

cookiestar

I'm not sure about your specific questions, but would have concerns about you getting a visa to live and work in Aus without recognised skills/qualifications, though I presume this is something you've already looked at?

iamthecreaturefromuranus

Cost of living... very rough guide would be to add up what you pay now and then add about 20%. We have friends here at the moment from the UK and they have been shocked at how much everything costs. The exchange rate movements have been a killer for people moving in from the UK.

mand8002

He says he is coming with his Australian partner and daughter so probably coming on a spouse visa........don't need skills assessment for that

ABCDiamond

This is an example of my own expenses in one year, 2007/2008, to give an idea of costs.

Cars $7,953.73
Education $5,595.00
Electricity $1,938.70 (5 bed house & heated Swimming pool)
Food & General $8,574.80
House Insurance $697.00 (say half, for contents only when renting)
Internet $579.80
Medical $1,959.27
Phones $733.99
Rates and Water $2,254.73 (not payable when renting)

The above covers two cars and 2 adults with one child in private education.

Rent will depend on location and house size.
In the Sydney area this can start from $180 pw (for 2 bed western Sydney) upwards as far as you like.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

That's a bit anal mate that you know how much you spent on food to the last cent over a twelve month period !!

ABCDiamond

Part and parcel of being an accountant, and keeping track of all my spending.

My doctor also thinks that doing things like that will also keep alzheimer's at bay for a little longer.

Anal or Medical ? Whatever you wish to think.

cj321

Shame there are no Aldi stores in WA

danskitt

Thanks all, that's great information, it gives me something to work with.

I will be on a spouse visa so not to worried about that just if we will be able to survive.