Mike 3G

I have been offered a transfer from Geelong with my current employer to the Woodside gas plant as a contractor. We have been down under for 2.5 years and have no real ties to this area therefore we are ready for the challenge.

Can people give me an idea on the following costs.

1. Utilities for a 3/4 bed house per year

2. % extra over capital cities for groceries & fuel

I have been offered 2k per week rent allowance + a utility allowance of 3k per year. Is this a decent package?

Which primary school would people recommend?

I'd be interested to hear from people who have lived in Karratha or similar places.

eddie007

You'll also need relative cost comparrisons for goon bags and crates of beer... That may be the deciding factor

Mike 3G

I'll keep it in mind.

Anyone have any feedback on the Dubai of the North West?

eddie007

They dont cut off your hand for nicking stuff in Karratha

eddie007

Sorry bout the irreverant posts... But I'm trying to keep the thread active til some one sensible comes along... You been looking up properties on realestate.com?

Mike 3G

Yeah no problem.

I have had a quick look at the usual websites and they ain't cheap!

It does seem doable on the rent allowance they are proposing.

I think we may fall short on the air con bill though which means paying a bit out of our own pocket.

I just need to figure out if its worth it as a big part of move is putting money away for the future.

eddie007

OMG just looked at the rentals and PRICES.... JEEZES believeable!!!!!!

3x 1 tiny kitchen with a pool for $1900 per WEEK!!!!!

You could get 5x2 with bells and whistles in peppermint grove in perf for that!!!!!!

bingobob777

Oucheee, no 4 beds available and only three 3 beds.

That plus 40C for 5 months, plus from wiki "Karratha only has 4 major food stores such as KFC, Mc Donalds, Chicken Treat and Subway"



Money isn't everything!

Mike 3G

Which website are you checking?

realestate had quite a few close to 30 3/4 beds.

bingobob777

so it does

MiekeNL

http://www.realestate.com.au/propert...pier-108041596 and Dampier is very pleasant as well @ not a bad price for the Pilbara

MeinMel

Go for a few days and visit the place. My OH is originally from Karratha and have mates and family who lived or are living in there and they are $$$ better off than us. They still have social life and every few months fly to Perth and or Syd/Mel for longer weekends(week off).

I'd move tomorrow for a couple of years if I had an opportunity

Bermudashorts

Very ordinary looking house for the money though. expensive place to live.

MiekeNL

Some of the houses are beautiful, ours is lovely

Mike 3G

We are looking at renting as we only rent here in Vic anyway. The idea is to save enough to pay our block of land off down here in 2-3 years plus experience something very different in the process. I like the idea of everyone being in same boat its a good chance to meet people and make friends.

I'm still discussing terms with my company and unless we can agree on a few things that are improtant to me then I won't move there as we do OK here anyway.