very interesting thread.... would love to see some price comparissons for gas/leccy/water rates/poll tax equivalent.... those are killers as far as I'm concerned...

I know it's sad but I do a 'similar shop' each week online at woolworths to compare...

Yes, agree with the comments on seasonal fruit and veges, they are double the price now than will be in January, atleast most of them.
$2.99/kg potatoes sounds about right at the moment, not forgetting though that for $5 you can get 4kg bag or for $11 you can get a 10kg bag...
Aussies have made bulk buing more affordable, take mince etc, anywhere between $8 to 10 a kg but buy min. 2kg and it's usually $4 to 6/kg.
Shopping around is definetly worth it...

Oztennis mentioned the petrol. I had a very interesting expierence on comparing the costs of this important part of ones living costs, during my recent visit to the uk. I've got to admit my experience is a little like comparing chalk and cheese however in a way it is very relevant.


Here in Aussie I drive a big gas guzzling Ford Falcon, around town for little trips, very inefficient I must admit, however with the low compartive price of petrol I dont worry too much about it. I get about 350 K's for about 60 Aud.

During my 7 weeks in the UK, I hired a Diesel Vauhall Astra, our whole family fitted in it just fine, 2 adults and 2 kids. Costs about 38 quid to fill up, however I would have been getting about 900 ks per tank.

I think the Vauxhall even with the much dearer fuel prices came out as a much cheaper way of transporting our family.

With a lot more diesels in the UK, maybe you could say the fuel component of running an average car is cheaper in the UK ??

My next car here, will definitely be a diesel.

If I told any aussie, about these costs in this thread, I guarantee they would almost 100 pct to a man or woman for that matter. Say bullshit. They just would not beleive the way that British prices and Aussie prices are now so similar, with the possibilty that the UK is cheaper on groceries. I've tried telling people about this, and they really think I've got it totally wrong.


I doubt if I would have beleived it, unless I'd compared it for myself.

We are totally the opposite we find shopping in Oz very expensive. We used to be able to do the weekly shop back home in Tescos for 30-40 quid now in Woolies we struggle to keep it below $120. We must look funny as we walk out with that puzzled look on our face thinking how did that shop add up to that amount.

I agree with all the comments on seasonal foods, etc.

It is VERY difficult to make straight comparisons without making a real meal of it (no pun intended). Yes, the global companies can give a comparison, since for example Kellogs will be made in many countries so you can compare a box here with a box there. But if you start to compare say coffee, just how can you say which coffee in Oz is equivalent to which in the UK? price won't do it - after all that is what you are trying to compare in the first place! Same goes for most of the non-branded things, which is why we had a large number of the global things, valid or not.

I must say I was surprised at the price of so many things in Oz - it certainly ain't cheap any more.

There is a real lack of competitive pricing here, in groceries as well as everything else. It's almost like the mafia - one or two big companies just carve the market up as they will; the public seems to accept it so long as the sun shines and the surf is up and the breweries aren't on strike.........

I think the only way to get a true idea of what is expensive or not is by wage comparison. If we knew for example what a postman earned in the UK and in Aus only then can prices be put into perspective

Very interesting this, my son always tells me that its cheaper to live in OZ -Sydney! Though renting and house purchase do seem less expensive, I suppose the big things make a lot of leeway, is that right? BTW glad to see that toilet rolls are cheaper. Wonder why?

Agree with almost everyones responses to this price comparison and not gonna bother to add anything except at our IGA this week...potatoes are $2.99 for 5kg's

I can respond Immediately to that one. A full time, Postie with 4 years experience on his belt here in Aussie gets a minimum, of 41,000 aud, Thats 37,015, flat rate, plus 15 pct shift allowance, Thats with no overtime, so the average would be around about 46,000 aud, with night shift posties earing on average around 55,000 aud. A postie in the UK, with Similar experience would be on at the most 17,000 pounds or AUD 42,000 with overtime. Posties in the UK, do not get the 30 pct that night shift aussie post workers get, nor 150 pct for sundays and public holidays.

This is why I maintain blue collar workers are generally better off, in Aussie, as "full time" permanent workers in Aussie are well protected by federal based award.

Iits all about to change though, with the howard reforms, Although thankfully Aussie post will remain relatively unscathed, unless howard gets in for a second term.

I cannot understand how a blue collar worker could ever vote for the liberals.

(thanks for the political platform lol)

Thats right Bruce but I can tell you from my perspective that I do not earn 3 times my English salary here in Oz to cover the leap in basic food supplies.

The basic figures we put up (NOT a shopping basket, of course) show Oz is 6% more expensive.

The figures are distorted to some extent by the large difference in the one item of insect spray - take that out, plus the petrol price, and the difference is 11%.

It would b fascinating to do a properly protocolled comparison a la statistics offices!

Did you read the prices above they quite clearly show that Aus prices are higher! And it’s the view of most people on here....!
How do you think supermarkets in Aus are going to have anywhere near the economies of scale that UK ones can?.. And don’t get me started on the lack of real competition in Aus!
Cost of living is slightly cheaper in Sydney then London for me, but defiantly not on grocery shopping!

Edit - seems you where looking at another site for prices - sorry, but I still find it hard to understand why you would think AUS is cheaper for food stuffs... can you buy a can of beans (weren’t they 9p or something!) and a loaf of bread and milk for under 5 dollars?... now takaways is a diferent matter!

Very interesting post


I find Aus very expensive especially when you compare take home pay.

UK engineer

Salary 45 hour week
30 days hols + public
Salary $105k
Medical for family and sickness/disability cover
Contributary pension
Mobile
Laptop
Computer Scheme £1000 every 2 years
Broadband and telephone at home
Annual bonus upto 15%
Co Car upto $75k
Comp C/C


Aus engineer ,same job
20 days hols
60hour week
Salry $65k
plus 9% super
Mobile-provide own car
provide own laptop

thats it.

I question sometimes what was I thinking

The two shopping lists above only show that IGA prices are higher than the ASDA ones. But ASDA and IGA are not comparable supermarkets!

As many have said above - the closest to ASDA here is Bi-Lo, Action, or even Aldi. IGA is generally more expensive than Coles (Safeway in Victoria) and Woolworth. And Coles and Woolworth are generally more expensive than Bi-Lo and Action.

If you have to buy in Oz exactly the same products that you used to buy in the UK, sure you've got to pay a premium for it, because the consumers/markets are different.

Mrs JTL