Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

Council tax = rates

landlords pay it - tenants dont.

If you own your own home you also have to pay it.

Also no TV license over here.

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

Depends on what kind of life you want doesnt it!

We have `our old lifestyle` but with the added weather, seeing each other more and managing to go out more!

Here we live to work and not work to live

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

What she said. Along with the fact that we are more relaxed. We were in the UK so I guess we're comatose now :D

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

You will get many different answer's to this one , But it all depends on how your standard of living was in the u.k .

The food shop works out about the same as the u.k, only the meat is better, or more of it for the price. But then other thing,s are slightly more expensive, so swing,s and roundabouts.

House price's are very much the same as the u.k , only a bigger house.

Car's depending on which one you choose, is not that much different either.

Clothing is not as good as the u.k , shoes are not as good as the u.k , But again that all depends on what you like.

Eating out slightly cheeper, but again it depends on were you go.

Wage's are in general slightly lower than the u.k or about the same. you do get the lucky few who may be on more.

All in All though your money does not seem to go as far as it did in the u.k.
Carn,t work out why as i have said everything is relatively the same. It just seams to go quicker. It is a very common problem with quite allot of Brits noticing it. The longer you are here the more it seems to start adding up though. Or is it you just get use to spending less. ;)

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

So if we were to rent we would just be paying the weekly rent, gas, electricity, telephone/internet...anything else? Water rates maybe?

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

Quite a quandry huh...

As an expat now in Oz...

Do you think cost of living is cheaper here than uk, cos exchange rate when you came was say 2.5 Dollars to the Quid

Or Do you think its about the same here cos the exchange rate was NAFF?

Perplexing !!

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

After visiting the UK in September I'm convinced the cost of living is cheaper here.

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

The cost of living is more in Oz, cant belive my staple diet of wine and beer was much more expensive:frown:
Wages are lower than the UK, but there are a lot of fresh "road kills" if you are not squemish.

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

It was only $2.40 when we came :( dunno if that helps us to feel better off or not :unsure::D

I think it's the fact my OH earns more here that does it really ;)

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

Tis a weird one tho...

I think some people feel better off after they have arrived based on what the exchange rate WAS when they exchanged funds... and I somehoe think they continue to wallow in this area of dillusionialityness !

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

LOL quite right!

As for something to have to pay other than tv licence - health insurance $230 a month, mobile phone $60, ISP $50, Broadband $30, petrol $1.49/l (here it is!), life insurance $??, Car reg $600 pa, Car insurance $300 pa.

I think the cost of living here is comparatively higher when you take into account higher wages in UK generally. I am always surprised how little it costs me to do a shop when I go home for a visit because I usually start out trying to convert. I give that up very quickly though!

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

Landlords pay the majority of the water rates too, you have to pay if you exceed 'reasonable usage'. Depending on where you live gas may not come into the equation either, here in Springfield Lakes there is no mains gas in many areas but you can go on bottled.

We find eating out far cheaper than in the UK and the standard is better.

Fresh meat, fish and fruit and veg is good quality with more choice and is cheaper. Ordinary groceries are about the same.

Petrol is not an issue with us as neither of us drive but public transport is far cheaper here (especially the further you travel).

We have just furnished a house for way less than we could have in the uk and that wasn't going to the 'cheaper places'.

Hubby is earning slightly less than he did but doesn't have half the stress and pressure he did in the uk and I am earning more per hour than I did.

Taking all this into account, financially we are slightly better off but all the money in the world can not compare with the improvement in the quality of our lives here...............we are happier, healthier and more content than we ever were in the uk.

The cost of where you live is all relative, it can be as expensive or cheap as you want to make it but at the end of the day that is not what is ALL important. Sure you have to live but happiness and well being doesn't have to have a price.

Loz x

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

Wow your rego must be more expensive in the ACT then, as mine is only $500 a year. Your car insurance is cheaper though, mine is a whopping $600 a year.
For the OP, rego is the same as car tax. We also dont pay for health insurance or life insurance, thats our personal choice. My mobile is $30 a month. As other posters have said, no rates when you rent, our water bill is approx $50 every 6 months, but thats just usage not rates. So renting all we pay is elec, gas, phone, excess water. And rent of course.

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

The truly dillusionial (sic) are those that think that Aus is expensive because they think $1 = £1. And although they use this with the groceries they do not seem to apply the same exchange rate to their wages or the tax. :rolleyes:

Re: Is it really that expensive to live in Oz?
 

With rego & insurance that's more than beats my UK car tax and fully com insurance, which come in around £300. Think i'll have to get a saturday job to make ends meet ;)