emmakc1977

Hi guys,

Ive called a few agencies and it looks like my hubbie and I will earn approx $110k between us, which dissapointingly is only about £45k (much less than we earn in the UK).

I have no idea about the cost of living in Australia as I've never been, but I've been checking out the forums about this. We have no house to sell in the UK as we rent. Do you think we will be stuffed on this salary? We have one son who is 4.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

DrWho

That's going to depend on many other factors... Where are you planning on living...? Close to Sydney's CBD becuase of work will mean a nice high rent bill...! Generally speaking, if you take housing out of the equation, then there's not much in it between UK/OZ... You might have to cut back a little... Many think the lifestyle to be worth it...

emmakc1977

We're thinking of going to Queensland, probably Brisbane. Hopefully, I'll be pleasantly surprised when we get there and the agent I spoke to was wrong :-)

daunted

Well im expecting to have to survive on half of that and i got 2 kids so i would be well happy

Pollyana

I think you'll find that the vast majority of us would love to see that sort of income.

welshviking

Do you mind if I ask what you do?

W.V.

Wendy

I'm with you there

themerlin

I guess it also depends on your home loan, if you go out and borrow $600k then it might be hard. But on the other hand if you only need to borrow a small amount then you will be on easy street

Funny thing about money no matter how much you earn you always seem to need more

Koala Konnection

Rents in Brisbane - 3 bed place - around $280 - $330 a week.

Now you can do some sums. I'd say you'll be fine. We've been out here for a couple of years (Just north of Brisbane) and the average income is supposed to be around $50k - $55k. Which means on average most people will be earning what you'll be earning and since most people are happily getting on with their lives...

Paul.

brisnick

Surely thats only if you rent a shack, or somewhere out in the sticks??

BTW, $110K is fine for me and my girlfriend, albeit the idea of buying a house is proving to be a bit scary!

DunRoaminTheUK

That's a good income here in Brisbane. I earn less than that (boooo!) and we are in the process of having a $500,000 house built which has caused us to become more frugal and cost-conscious with our day-to-day spending but it hasn't "crippled" us.

I might look for contract work (which there is a very high demand for at the moment) which should put me in the same salary range as yourself?

Koala Konnection

Yes, I thought that until I came across these:

http://www.domain.com.au/Public/Sear...,T&PTDes=House

Of course you can spend more but for the first 6 months when you don't know where you are or what you're doing, to a certain degree, it's perhaps wise not to overdo it. I suppose $280 might get you a shack.... There's one (3 bed house) on the first page at $260 a week - I'm not saying it's ideal, but they are out there.

Move out of Brisbane and the prices do change. We rented a 3 bedroom house in Flaxton on the Sunshine Coast for $280, rising to $290 after a year. It sat on a quarter acre too. Ideal as a first home, small deck with views and quite private.

Paul.

ozzieeagle

It's right on the average wage, Most people actually earn less than the average wage.

I'll tell you the worst thing about that income, with kids, that your family tax benefit B, Or child income support will be cut at 21cents on every dollar you earn as a family between circa 88,000 and 111,000 AUD, It will actually probably be at a lower freshold for you, as thats the 2 child income limit. That makes a tax rate of at least 51 cents in the dollar for every amount you earn as overtime, or extras.... Crap innit. I'm not working extra over easter for this exact reason.


I've been told I have to buy an investment property to cut the tax rate, Like to know how I can afford that and a 500 dollar a month orthodontic bill for our kids that we are halfway through. (up to 16,000 bucks in two years now, with probably 4,000 grand back in insurance and tax)


Watch out for the dentists, it's like an extra tax man.

the4ofus

Like to know how I can afford that and a 500 dollar a month orthodontic bill for our kids that we are halfway through. (up to 16,000 bucks in two years now, with probably 4,000 grand back in insurance and tax)


Watch out for the dentists, it's like an extra tax man.[/QUOTE]

Tell me more about the orthodontist bill My daughter has visited twice here in the UK but STILL has 6 baby teeth, he said he would send for her again around xmas (by which time we hope to be in oz). I was hoping to have started the process and then continue in Oz, but looks like it's all going to happen over there - and we have to do it, 'cos her mouth is crowded and teeth in bad shape because of this. What are the actual costs for the orthodontist?

Cheers, Lynn xx

The Murphsters

Hi, we are in Brisbane, renting in the city just now as is easier staying close to everything till we find our feet. $415 a week for a 2 bed apartment. As soon as the missus gets a job we will be on around the same as you and think we will manage fine. We too are a little taken aback by the prices of new houses and will be looking at a $5-600,00 mortgage which is a worry, but we will need a less expendable income here.

I guess it depends on what you are used too but we were used to blowing all our cash in England on going out and weekends away etc.. so for us the cost of living will be cheaper here because we will not be going out as much and socialising much more at home (thats the plan anyway!). I do find living expenses here slightly cheaper than the UK, the tax is certainly lower, cars, petrol, eating out and fresh food is certainly cheaper (or at least seems it).
We do not have kids yet however, so we may start to think differently if/when that happens.

You will be fine as long as you are not expecting the same lifestyle as you have in the UK, but after all you are not coming all this way for the same lifestyle are you!?!