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Melbourne Cost of Living

Melbourne Cost of Living

Old Jun 5th 2012, 12:26 pm
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Default Melbourne Cost of Living

Hi All,

I'm new on here and so would appreciate any help/advice that you can offer regarding the acutal cost of living in Melbourne...

Myself, hubby and 2 boys (4 year old and 4 month old) are going through the process of deciding whether or not to move to Melbourne. My hubby has been offered a job and although this process has been going on for a few months the whole Australia move came out of left field and if he accepts we need to be there by early September so things are moving quickly.

Melbourne appeals to us for many reasons and our decision will include a lot of outside factors (leaving family etc) rather than do we want to live in Melbourne.

I am looking for some advice regarding the cost of living. I know about the 2.5 rule of thumb, but what will really help me to see how far our salaries will go is knowing the actual cost of essentials. Would anyone living in a 3/4 bed house with a similar sized family mind sharing their monthly outgoings on things such as:

Gas
Electric
Water
Phone
Broadband
TV (Cable, sky etc)
Food
Healthcare inc dentists
Petrol (for average sized car)
etc

I appreciate every family is different, I just want an idea on average costs. As we have a 4 month old, we are likely to be living off of my hubby's salary alone to start with so we need to fully explore the numbers as part of our decision making.

Many thanks for reading and for any help you can offer...
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Old Jun 5th 2012, 1:49 pm
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by Ningirl
Hi All,

I'm new on here and so would appreciate any help/advice that you can offer regarding the acutal cost of living in Melbourne...

Myself, hubby and 2 boys (4 year old and 4 month old) are going through the process of deciding whether or not to move to Melbourne. My hubby has been offered a job and although this process has been going on for a few months the whole Australia move came out of left field and if he accepts we need to be there by early September so things are moving quickly.

Melbourne appeals to us for many reasons and our decision will include a lot of outside factors (leaving family etc) rather than do we want to live in Melbourne.

I am looking for some advice regarding the cost of living. I know about the 2.5 rule of thumb, but what will really help me to see how far our salaries will go is knowing the actual cost of essentials. Would anyone living in a 3/4 bed house with a similar sized family mind sharing their monthly outgoings on things such as:

Gas
Electric
Water
Phone
Broadband
TV (Cable, sky etc)
Food
Healthcare inc dentists
Petrol (for average sized car)
etc

I appreciate every family is different, I just want an idea on average costs. As we have a 4 month old, we are likely to be living off of my hubby's salary alone to start with so we need to fully explore the numbers as part of our decision making.

Many thanks for reading and for any help you can offer...
I suggest you think long and hard before you move to Australia, to be honest it is now a very expensive place to live.
I would also consider culture differences and the isolation living thousands of miles away in a country that is not England, I personally got tired of being made to feel like some second class citizen, just remember you will always just be a pom....and all that goes with it.

I would look at all aspects not just money ?

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Old Jun 5th 2012, 4:31 pm
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Thankyou for your post. We have relocated several times with my husbands work so we have some experience in considering such factors and also of making the neccesary effort to make new friends and make a life for ourselves away from family and friends (although never been as far away as Australia). I rather hoped I had got the message across in my first post that our decision is not about money. However, as with any job move and salary change a large part of the puzzle is: money in less money out = a) Yes we can do this financially or b) No this is not financially possible/worth it.

I can assure you the reason for my post is because we are thinking "long and hard" about the move, although it seems we may be looking for help in the wrong place
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Old Jun 5th 2012, 4:49 pm
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by Ningirl
Thankyou for your post. We have relocated several times with my husbands work so we have some experience in considering such factors and also of making the neccesary effort to make new friends and make a life for ourselves away from family and friends (although never been as far away as Australia). I rather hoped I had got the message across in my first post that our decision is not about money. However, as with any job move and salary change a large part of the puzzle is: money in less money out = a) Yes we can do this financially or b) No this is not financially possible/worth it.

I can assure you the reason for my post is because we are thinking "long and hard" about the move, although it seems we may be looking for help in the wrong place
Sorry didn't wan't to be negative regarding your possible move to Australia, I just know that many English people tend to see big houses and swimming pools, the choice is yours, i'm sure many immigrants to Australia do settle and fit in, I'm just saying in order to do that fully you will have to forget your English or British origin.

I wish you well, with your future wherever you choose or get the oportunity to live.
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Old Jun 5th 2012, 5:28 pm
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

I can appreciate that-I have read enough posts to know (and seen first hand) of those who think moving to a different country will automatically change their life and their fortunes (both financial and non financial) overnight only to be bitterly disappointed.

We are looking into all factors, most of them no-one on this forum or outside of our family of four will be able to help with. This is our decision, only we know what we want to achieve in life for ourselves and our family.

The bits that forums like this can help with is the practical stuff, cost of living, suburbs with the best public transport etc. I am the kind of person who never does anything without researching things down to the smallest detail, but I have also been lucky enough to travel throughout the world and know that regardless of what you read, the reality is different.

This is why I am keen to know firsthand about the relevant costs of living, have I got some figures off the internet? yes of course I have but reality beats best guesses every time and I want to make sure the figures I am working towards are accurate.
This exercise is about setting expectations. If we do make the move, it will be the first time ever we will be a one salary household so there is more pressure than usual to make sure our budgeting is done accurately.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 12:36 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by Ningirl
This is why I am keen to know firsthand about the relevant costs of living, have I got some figures off the internet? yes of course I have but reality beats best guesses every time and I want to make sure the figures I am working towards are accurate.
This exercise is about setting expectations. If we do make the move, it will be the first time ever we will be a one salary household so there is more pressure than usual to make sure our budgeting is done accurately.
Do you mind sharing roughly the income? I am on 160K in Melbourne, single, and find it fairly close to 100K GBP in London (I don't have a car though, which is a fairly expense here, repair bills also seem fairly high given comments work colleagues have made, or basics like new tires)

Food is high but not much worse vs London - a good rule of thumb is food will cost more but rent will be less. If you are on a 457 it can get costly with the school bills - I know a few 457's here really worried about that with LAFHA now going away (you will find most Australians hate LAFHA out of 'fairness' but will be in no hurry to have the laws changed so that your kids are treated the same as their's re school fees, despite you paying the same tax with LAFHA going). If you eat at home a lot that makes a big difference - i find eating out here fairly expensive and overall disappointing quality vs London / New York or that sort of city. "family' things appear high - taking the kids to look at fish in a small rather sad place by the casino here (vs say Sea world in Florida) is something like 30 dollars each - the zoo is fairly high also - but you can get annual passes to make it easier.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 1:41 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by rld1177
Do you mind sharing roughly the income? I am on 160K in Melbourne, single, and find it fairly close to 100K GBP in London (I don't have a car though, which is a fairly expense here, repair bills also seem fairly high given comments work colleagues have made, or basics like new tires)

Food is high but not much worse vs London - a good rule of thumb is food will cost more but rent will be less. If you are on a 457 it can get costly with the school bills - I know a few 457's here really worried about that with LAFHA now going away (you will find most Australians hate LAFHA out of 'fairness' but will be in no hurry to have the laws changed so that your kids are treated the same as their's re school fees, despite you paying the same tax with LAFHA going). If you eat at home a lot that makes a big difference - i find eating out here fairly expensive and overall disappointing quality vs London / New York or that sort of city. "family' things appear high - taking the kids to look at fish in a small rather sad place by the casino here (vs say Sea world in Florida) is something like 30 dollars each - the zoo is fairly high also - but you can get annual passes to make it easier.
Things can be expensive unless you start to live like the locals and avoid shopping / eating at tourist locations in the City. There are plenty of good quality restaurants available at reasonable prices. If you make use of discount vouchers eg entertainment guide then additional savings can be made.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 2:13 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by rld1177
If you are on a 457 it can get costly with the school bills -
No extra school fees for temporary residents in public schools in Victoria. Only fees are the same as those paid by PRs and residents, on average $350-$400/year, most of that a voluntary contribution. Uniforms costs are on top of that.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 2:17 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Hi ningirl, been lots of cost of loving threads recently on here. Have a search of the forums, here's one on budgeting http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...ight=budgeting

Quite a few people talked about what they spent on stuff. Varies quite a lot though! I guess you know yourselves whether you are 'put the a/c or heating on' or tend not to to save money. Same on the weekly shop - I still buy PG tips which are expensive here but others might be happy with the own brand stuff.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 2:27 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by Ningirl
I am looking for some advice regarding the cost of living. I know about the 2.5 rule of thumb, but what will really help me to see how far our salaries will go is knowing the actual cost of essentials. Would anyone living in a 3/4 bed house with a similar sized family mind sharing their monthly outgoings on things such as:
Can't give any advise other than the 2.5 rule. There are such variations in the price of different aspects of your expediture. I'd even go as far as saying you can reduce the 2.5 to 2.2 and still come out ahead.

I haven't heard anyone argue with the 2.5/2.2 rule yet. 1.8 may be a different story.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 2:39 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Also .... you asked about specific prices of things

Gas
Electric
Water
Phone
Broadband
TV (Cable, sky etc)
Food
Healthcare inc dentists
Petrol (for average sized car)
etc


I know my broadband is $40 a month, I think foxtel extract $110 a month for my TV(but I haven't check for a while) and that petrol can be between $1.35 and $1.55 at any point in time.

Other than that Mrs Beoz sorts out the rest and I wouldn't have a clue what the costs are. All I know is at the end of every month we have more in our bank account, both as a proportion of our salary and as a straight exchange rate than we ever did in the UK and both our salaries combined averaged out at about 2.5 following the rule of thumb
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 3:38 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by rld1177
Food is high but not much worse vs London - a good rule of thumb is food will cost more but rent will be less.
Well that just shows that we all see things differently. I have never seen that rule of thumb before though.

I don't notice any difference in my food costs (not that I analyse it in detail) whereas my rent is several times more than my mortgage was. I can be specific: mortgage was GBP 13k per year and the rental value would be GBP16k a year. Compare to my rental here of ~AUD 65k per year. Both 3 bed houses, one within 45 minutes of Sydney (on a bus) and the other 45 minutes from London (on a train).

OP - I really think that the ~2.5 method is much more sensible than trying to tot everything up, you won't get everything and we all spend different amounts on food, petrol, utilities.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 3:57 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

Originally Posted by NEMISSIS
I'm just saying in order to do that fully you will have to forget your English or British origin.

Not quite sure what you mean by this statement. Can you explain more fully please ?

After 3 decades here, I still have my accent, likes and dislikes. I've fitted in really well though.

Personally I reckon I would have had more trouble fitting into different parts of England after my native South London, than here in Melbourne.

Lots of Australians making very positive comments re the Jubilee at work today for instance. They are enjoying the coverage... We've got Dawn French of all people popping up in Ad's all over the country for a local supermarket. Aussies aren't carrying on about her being a foreigner advertising a local outlet.

You've confused me somewhat with your statement. What part or bits or aspects of England am I supposed to forget ?

Last edited by ozzieeagle; Jun 6th 2012 at 4:01 am.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 4:12 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

[QUOTE=Bermudashorts;10102651]Well that just shows that we all see things differently. I have never seen that rule of thumb before though.

I don't notice any difference in my food costs (not that I analyse it in detail) whereas my rent is several times more than my mortgage was. I can be specific: mortgage was GBP 13k per year and the rental value would be GBP16k a year. Compare to my rental here of ~AUD 65k per year. Both 3 bed houses, one within 45 minutes of Sydney (on a bus) and the other 45 minutes from London (on a train).
QUOTE]

Ah. I was comparing rent to rent. I am not sure that rent - mortgage or vice versa works well since bank rates are lower in the UK for a loan. Or take where I was in Colorado last year - you could outright buy a condo for 50K that was decent, or rent it for almost 1K a month since it is hard to get bank loans in the states now, rents are high but mortages are a great deal in depressed areas.

I definately pay more for food but it isnt exactly material - 150 AUS per trip to the store in London vs say 200 AUS / 220 AUS maybe for similar stuff here. (Outside of Coke and a few other items which seems strangely high here vs London).

In terms of rent, I am in a nice high flloor apartment with good views on the 34th floor paying I'd guess 20%/25% less vs what I paid in Canary Wharf about 13 months ago with more space - this is likely due to all the oversupply in the CBD area though and maybe if you want the suburb, 1 hour plus commute life it is more here vs London. I've also heard from a few people at my bank that moved from Sydney to Melbourne rents are somewhat lower here so maybe the main difference we are noting is just based on choice of city.
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Old Jun 6th 2012, 4:47 am
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Default Re: Melbourne Cost of Living

[QUOTE=rld1177;10102682]
Originally Posted by Bermudashorts
Well that just shows that we all see things differently. I have never seen that rule of thumb before though.

I don't notice any difference in my food costs (not that I analyse it in detail) whereas my rent is several times more than my mortgage was. I can be specific: mortgage was GBP 13k per year and the rental value would be GBP16k a year. Compare to my rental here of ~AUD 65k per year. Both 3 bed houses, one within 45 minutes of Sydney (on a bus) and the other 45 minutes from London (on a train).
QUOTE]

Ah. I was comparing rent to rent. I am not sure that rent - mortgage or vice versa works well since bank rates are lower in the UK for a loan. Or take where I was in Colorado last year - you could outright buy a condo for 50K that was decent, or rent it for almost 1K a month since it is hard to get bank loans in the states now, rents are high but mortages are a great deal in depressed areas.

I definately pay more for food but it isnt exactly material - 150 AUS per trip to the store in London vs say 200 AUS / 220 AUS maybe for similar stuff here. (Outside of Coke and a few other items which seems strangely high here vs London).
That is why I did a rent to rent comparison. My mortgage is GBP 13k but the rental value of my house is GBP 16k. So gbp16k versus $65k.
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