Weebie

Yeah but the difference is that Melbourne is wealthy and Christchurch is poor. 3x1 townhouse to many young Australians is a big house. Some small townhouses in Melbourne and Sydney 15-20 mins out can cost a couple mill each.

If Christchurch is soo good then why are you leaving?

elice_in_oz

Not been to Brandon Park. And not talking about malls either. The shops I listed are all on our main street, with no through traffic and plenty of space for cafe tables.

It really depends where you live. We're in Montmorency and it's got all I described above. But Greensborough next door is pretty dire, with a big indoors shopping centre and a rather depressing hight street. Eltham is better but the high street is a through road so not as nice as Monty.

Indeed!

Pine Cone

Well, first of all I never said Christchurch was soo good, although there are plenty of things we like about the city. But there are many reasons for us deciding to leave. NZ is a fab country to live in terms of lifestyle, but not financially. Hubby could increase his take home salary by a minimum of 50% (after tax and medicare levy), and in reality he'd be more likely to *almost* double his take home salary. This isn't wishful thinking, we've done the serious research and already have an extensive network of contacts in Oz.

And then of course there is the fact that we've just gone through a bloody great big earthquake. It's put our nerves on edge and we no longer sleep well at night with all the aftershocks. This is not a healthy way to live long term.

And lastly, we want to give Oz a try because we are young enough that we still can. What better reason is there than that really?


Bit of a generalisaion. There are plenty of poorer areas of Christchurch, but there are also some very nice areas that are well outside our price range, where we couldn't even afford to rent a flat. But I'm not here to ask about areas I can't afford to rent, I interested in those areas I can.

Deutschmaster

You might wish to consider around Oakleigh in the South East. It has a busy town centre, coffee shops, train station, and around 30 mins from the sea - if you don't mind driving 15 minutes longer. Your budget should be OK for there.

Deancm_MKII

I wouldn't classify either one of those areas as suburbs but more bayside towns and Hampton and Brighton are quite upper class.

Deancm_MKII

How about Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley, Holmesglen, Sunshine, Broadmeadows, Mulgrave, Ringwood, Scoresby, Burwood, Frankston, Knox, Chadstone, Moorabbin, Oakleigh, Doncaster...

I could go on...

Not a decent high street in sight (although a few shopping centres).

hevs

I seriously have no idea where you live, but we have a bustling high street and just thinking off hand I can think of heaps. That said there are lots of Westfields and TBH I prefer them on a 30 plus day....But they are out there.

Another poster said about shut down over winter? Dont get that at all. Then again my winter is schedualed around the footie But theres loads to do, and also the snow to visit!

What I love?...so much...Everything!!...apart from....

The Monash freeway during rush hour and the morons who drive on it
At times it gets too hot, dusty and yellow
The bush fire/ total fire ban days can be pretty scary
Its expensive. Houses, utilities, food, everything!
My local council are diabolical for just everything.....

hevs

I'm pretty sure Frankston has a hight street, and Oakleigh (and theres a market there I believe) Doesnt Glen waveley have like a square all around the glen? (Havent been for ages, but sure there were lots of other shops? Clayton has a very busy main street, as does Berwick, old Narre, Belgrave, FTG, theres a very small, but busy one both Emerald and Beaconsfield....All have banks, independant grocers/ butchers etc. Coffee shops and bakeries a plenty....Berwick has a large amount or boutique/ one off shops.....

Kiwijack

Chch vs Melbourne

Commuting - You may find yourself doing some serious commuting. Under an hour is good. Up to 2 hours each way is not uncommon. And an accident on the freeway or a rail problem can add an hour or two. Big commuting will be part of your daily working life especially if you have kids and will be wanting to head out to the outer suburbs. Nothing in Chch will prepare you for this commuting.

Beachside - If you want to stretch your budget in Chch you can live in a great seaside suburb like Sumner (or close by in Mt Pleasant). This is not an option in Melbourne. $550 (aus $) would get you a nice damp-ridden weatherboard at best. And bayside beaches aren't great (no surf, bit grubby)

If you can work outside of Melbourne, you might want to check out Torquay on the Surf Coast which is a bit like a big Sumner (with the population size of Rangiora). Good surf, real beaches, lots of cafes and shops, holiday atmosphere.

Health issues - Lots of people smoke compared to Chch and obesity is a big issue. Not just a bit overweight (as a few of us might be ) but there is a significant number of people who are obscenely fat. If you have young kids you may want to consider that moving to Melbourne may change their perception of health. Walk around Sumner everyday for a week and you'd be hard pushed to see an obese peson or many people smoking. Get off the train on the way to work in Melbourne and you'll be slicing your way through the smoke as half the train passengers light up as they exit the platform. Walk round the CBD and you'll be dodging groups of smokers or walking behind them in their smoke wake. It's unpleasant. At my kids first school the parents used to regularly bring in KFC for the kids at lunchtime and then stand around in groups smoking (parents that is). Bit of a shock from Chch.

In general - No easterly wind Some years are a bit bush fly plagued I like the odd 40 degree day. Houses generally have aircon and good central heating - unlike Chch houses which generally lack either. Salary and tax benefits are great.

Buzzy--Bee

$425 per week would get you a 3 bed house in my area, 45 mins to the city, 15 mins walk to the beach.

This is how much we paid in our rental until we moved into our own place a year ago.

BB

SamSi

Check out Brighton East and St Kilda East. Some perfectly ok 3bed/1 bath houses/townhouses to be had in the $500 - $550pw range but garage would be unlikely. Both handy for the beach, shops, transport to the CBD etc. Or, you can also find 3 bed houses in likes of Port Melbourne, South Melbourne - even better location-wise with a great cafe scene, lots of young families and singletons, on the beach yet cbd on your doorstep but some (well, most!) properties will be a bit hit and miss. Or, if you want a bigger/nicer house with a garage - just keep heading along the bay till you find a suburb you like and can afford. Mentone and Mordiallic are perfectly ok, just a bit further out and more family-orientated.

BadgeIsBack

Hard to say what is bad - it can get too hot at times - but mates tell me that they find Perth a lot hotter. I don't personally like the suburbs unless they are established - ~25 years?

Someone will probably tell you that the flies and the crime is bad. We haven't had one big fly-day here this entire spring summer season I have noticed, and it is not the case that you are guaranteed to see a member of the mafia every time you go to lunch.

Which is great as I love buying one-offs.

elice_in_oz

Our 3 bed, 2 carports, small courtyard, hot-as-an-oven-in-summer, cold-as-a-freezer-in-winter townhouse in Hawthorn (6 km from CBD, quite expensive/posh suburb) was rented out to new tenants for $480/week when we left last year (we were paying $435 ). The place was good, with largish rooms and although not modern, in good repair. So you can find decent rentals close to the CBD.
What is it with people and flies in Melbourne.
I've been here 8 years, lived near the bay, near the CBD and further out inland and I can't say that I have ever been bothered by flies At least not to the point that I would mention them as a con to living in Melbourne.
Only time I can remember them being a nuisance in Victoria was in the Grampians around Christmas time. Now, in the Red Centre, there ARE flies... Many, many, many, many flies

Deutschmaster

Jan/Feb 2008 was bad for flies - think they were desperate due to the drought. I'd cycle to work through a park and have a whole swarm trying to follow me. Still, easiest way to get rid of them was to ride past somebody walking

Deancm_MKII

Frankston, Glen Waverley and Oakleigh all do have hight streets but they're not places you want to go to spend an afternoon out. Shops at Glen Waverley are rubbish and Frankston is a shithole with Oakleigh being not much better. Not even comparable to places such as Toorak, St. Kilda, Sth Yarra, Elwood, Hampton etc.

Clayton's also a shithole. Can't speak for Berwick, haven't been down that way for years but Narre Warren is a shithole.