Salary in Perth
May 30th 2008, 8:57 am
#16
Banned
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Tapping (Perth)
Posts: 2,619
Re: Salary in Perth
Hmm - I have some thinking to do because while my OH was retraining (2 yrs) we would only be earning about $60,000.
I'd be willing to tighten my belt for 2 years if I thought things would improve once we were both working but if a joint income of $120,000 means you can only borrow $300,000 then it just doesn't seem worth it.
I'd be willing to tighten my belt for 2 years if I thought things would improve once we were both working but if a joint income of $120,000 means you can only borrow $300,000 then it just doesn't seem worth it.
Here is the one from BankWest: http://www.bankwest.com.au/Personal/...ors/index.aspx
Westpac and other banks have those on their websites as well.
When you use the calculators be conservative and assume that your net salary will be 70% of your gross salary. That way you end up with realistic numbers.
Also, remember that with two children and on a low income you'll get quite a bit in family benefit (Oz version of child benefit).
Gina
May 30th 2008, 9:23 am
#17
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Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Posts: 364
Re: Salary in Perth
Where the hell do you shop? 
We are finding clothes out here horiffically expensive and much worse quality that the UK too....
Case in point I bought a G Star hoody in Perth and it was $180, went back to the UK and bought a Bench one (what I would consider a comparable brand) for 40 pounds.
Decent jeans in Perth are about $120-150, jeans in the UK are 30 quid in Next including a belt.
The missus is finding the same, a work "top" over here is about $70, in the UK would be 15-20 quid max. Boots and shoes dont even go there.
Food is definitely more expensive for us and we are watching what we buy and only buying in season and are shopping at the local butchers and fruit shop which is a lot cheaper than coles and woolies - the quality isnt a patch on what you would get in the UK either which is a disappointment considering they stick "local" produce down your throats all the time.
As for bills our first electric bill was $170 for a month but we did arrive when it was 40+ and the aircon was on more or less 24/7. Just got our water bill and that was $160 for 3 months which isnt too bad.
It baffles me when people say its cheaper here, if you like stuff to a comparable standard to what you had in the UK then its been way more expensive in our experience.
But its still great
We are finding clothes out here horiffically expensive and much worse quality that the UK too....Case in point I bought a G Star hoody in Perth and it was $180, went back to the UK and bought a Bench one (what I would consider a comparable brand) for 40 pounds.
Decent jeans in Perth are about $120-150, jeans in the UK are 30 quid in Next including a belt.
The missus is finding the same, a work "top" over here is about $70, in the UK would be 15-20 quid max. Boots and shoes dont even go there.
Food is definitely more expensive for us and we are watching what we buy and only buying in season and are shopping at the local butchers and fruit shop which is a lot cheaper than coles and woolies - the quality isnt a patch on what you would get in the UK either which is a disappointment considering they stick "local" produce down your throats all the time.
As for bills our first electric bill was $170 for a month but we did arrive when it was 40+ and the aircon was on more or less 24/7. Just got our water bill and that was $160 for 3 months which isnt too bad.
It baffles me when people say its cheaper here, if you like stuff to a comparable standard to what you had in the UK then its been way more expensive in our experience.
But its still great
As for shopping I used to use Kingsway shopping centre for food, or the bread shop and local butcher in kingsley and some times the Kingsley IGA I think it is called now for fruit and veg. And never was I disapointed at the quality.
I think we could go on comparing prices and quality all day, it comes down to what your used I think.
May 30th 2008, 9:39 am
#18
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle , NSW
Posts: 6,756
Re: Salary in Perth
Don't make decisions just on what people say ... check the facts first. Have a look at a few bank websites and use their "borrowing power calculator" to find out how much you can borrow.
Here is the one from BankWest: http://www.bankwest.com.au/Personal/...ors/index.aspx
Westpac and other banks have those on their websites as well.
When you use the calculators be conservative and assume that your net salary will be 70% of your gross salary. That way you end up with realistic numbers.
Also, remember that with two children and on a low income you'll get quite a bit in family benefit (Oz version of child benefit).
Gina
Here is the one from BankWest: http://www.bankwest.com.au/Personal/...ors/index.aspx
Westpac and other banks have those on their websites as well.
When you use the calculators be conservative and assume that your net salary will be 70% of your gross salary. That way you end up with realistic numbers.
Also, remember that with two children and on a low income you'll get quite a bit in family benefit (Oz version of child benefit).
Gina
I used that calculator and put in what I thought would be a conservative estimate of joint income $2500 per fortnight with $200 car loan and $200 credit card bill and it still said we could borrow $400,000.
May 30th 2008, 9:56 am
#19
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Perf
Posts: 560
Re: Salary in Perth
Did you look at what the repayments would be? Bearing in mind the interest rate is sat at over 9% at the moment.
May 30th 2008, 10:14 am
#22
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Perf
Posts: 560
Re: Salary in Perth
Yep, try putting it to 9-9.5 and then see what happens - then up it a bit for the forecasted two interest rate hikes due this year 
As Gina said please dont base your decision on what one person says but do some serious realistic sums based on the situation out here - we arent finding it easy at all and we are a couple on double what you would be earning at first.
If you can get 120k then you could rent somwhere but you will really struggle to buy something other than a 1 bed apartment and im sure thats not the dream you are expecting.
In my opinion its much better to come here knowing what the situation is from the off rather than coming over with a dream and knowing you cant get anywhere near what you want.
As Gina said please dont base your decision on what one person says but do some serious realistic sums based on the situation out here - we arent finding it easy at all and we are a couple on double what you would be earning at first.
If you can get 120k then you could rent somwhere but you will really struggle to buy something other than a 1 bed apartment and im sure thats not the dream you are expecting.
In my opinion its much better to come here knowing what the situation is from the off rather than coming over with a dream and knowing you cant get anywhere near what you want.
Last edited by ianhutch1; May 30th 2008 at 10:16 am.
May 30th 2008, 10:16 am
#23
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: Salary in Perth
We've just looked at a very nice 4x2 on a 760m2 lot with reverse cycle air con and a pool...Asking $439k in Clarkson. Our mortgage payments will be my entire paycheque every week, but it's a nice place and we think it's a nice enough suburb.
May 30th 2008, 10:19 am
#24
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle , NSW
Posts: 6,756
Re: Salary in Perth
Where is Clarkson? Is it commutable to central Perth?
May 30th 2008, 10:21 am
#25
Happy migrant
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle , NSW
Posts: 6,756
Re: Salary in Perth
Yep, try putting it to 9-9.5 and then see what happens - then up it a bit for the forecasted two interest rate hikes due this year
As Gina said please dont base your decision on what one person says but do some serious realistic sums based on the situation out here - we arent finding it easy at all and we are a couple on double what you would be earning at first.
If you can get 120k then you could rent somwhere but you will really struggle to buy something other than a 1 bed apartment and im sure thats not the dream you are expecting.
In my opinion its much better to come here knowing what the situation is from the off rather than coming over with a dream and knowing you cant get anywhere near what you want.
As Gina said please dont base your decision on what one person says but do some serious realistic sums based on the situation out here - we arent finding it easy at all and we are a couple on double what you would be earning at first.
If you can get 120k then you could rent somwhere but you will really struggle to buy something other than a 1 bed apartment and im sure thats not the dream you are expecting.
In my opinion its much better to come here knowing what the situation is from the off rather than coming over with a dream and knowing you cant get anywhere near what you want.
May 30th 2008, 10:22 am
#26
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: Salary in Perth
It's the north end of the north/south train line, about 35 min. ride. I commute by car because I work in the Western suburbs and it takes me about 45 min each way. I drive down the coast road, so it's at least a nice commute.
May 30th 2008, 12:26 pm
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Manning, Perth WA
Posts: 49
Re: Salary in Perth
As Ian has said, its very, very expensive here. We have found it hard, I also get annoyed because the clothes are not only expensive, but no where near as good quality and not as much choice, the same goes with food. I work in Welshpool and last night I had to travel to South Perth to get some Pancetta which cost me $10! £1.60 in sainsburys in the UK.
May 30th 2008, 1:00 pm
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Paisley today...Perth Aug 08
Posts: 32
Re: Salary in Perth
Just reading this thread and now having a total panic attack 
We're going to Perth (August hopefully) on a 457 visa, I'll be earning $52k + super, OH will get a job once he gets there. He's an Agi Driver, hoping to try and get a job in the mines.
We have 2 kids and are looking at the Northern suburbs. We hope to be bringing $100k with us (maybe a bit less by the time we pay off everything).
Just hope we will be able to survive!!??
Di
We're going to Perth (August hopefully) on a 457 visa, I'll be earning $52k + super, OH will get a job once he gets there. He's an Agi Driver, hoping to try and get a job in the mines.
We have 2 kids and are looking at the Northern suburbs. We hope to be bringing $100k with us (maybe a bit less by the time we pay off everything).
Just hope we will be able to survive!!??
Di
May 30th 2008, 1:14 pm
#30
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Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Perth ( via Adelaide )
Posts: 776
Re: Salary in Perth
I was wondering....could any of you (a couple) live on $55,000 a year?