Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6
Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Hi all, well after thinking of it for years my husband and I are finally starting to make steps in moving to Australia. We are considering Perth, wa and for months now I have spent hours/days scrolling different threads to get ideas of places to live, cost of living etc.
I am a registered nurse, been qualified 5 years now, background in respiratory.
My husband is a security officer, starting a course in barbering in the next few months (1 year course)
We have 2 kids, age 4 and 4 months.
We do not own a home in the UK
We have thought very hard about this and do not expect to move to a life of luxury. We expect to just have the same life (financially) as the UK with just a better 'life style'
I'm looking for people's views/advice on whether you feel our expectations seem real or not.
Having looked at various threads for months we like the look of northern Perth suburbs, tapping, carramer etc.
Both working full time with a joint Salary of minimum $100k
Total monthly outgoings of around $5k (rent $2300 per month, utilities,car costs, food shopping, activities etc totalling $2700 per month.
Joint salary of $100k giving us a take home Salary each month of just over $7k after deductions leaving us with an extra $2k each month to do as we please after all bills etc paid.
Does that seem about right so far?
With us both working full time we'd also have childcare costs so may have to look at the extras we have accounted for in that $5k per money expenditure.
We will be coming with no debts owing in the UK, a clean slate with £20k savings ($30k) after paying visas, flights, shipments etc.
We'd be looking at buying 2 used cars approx $5k each.
I'd be grateful if anyone could advise me on whether this looks realistic to them or not?
In the UK with live in a council home, after bills etc we don't have much money left over each month, we get by pretty good with money to enjoy days out etc but not much after that, we have used cars and have worked hard to get together our savings.
Thankyou for taking the time to read my post.
I am a registered nurse, been qualified 5 years now, background in respiratory.
My husband is a security officer, starting a course in barbering in the next few months (1 year course)
We have 2 kids, age 4 and 4 months.
We do not own a home in the UK
We have thought very hard about this and do not expect to move to a life of luxury. We expect to just have the same life (financially) as the UK with just a better 'life style'
I'm looking for people's views/advice on whether you feel our expectations seem real or not.
Having looked at various threads for months we like the look of northern Perth suburbs, tapping, carramer etc.
Both working full time with a joint Salary of minimum $100k
Total monthly outgoings of around $5k (rent $2300 per month, utilities,car costs, food shopping, activities etc totalling $2700 per month.
Joint salary of $100k giving us a take home Salary each month of just over $7k after deductions leaving us with an extra $2k each month to do as we please after all bills etc paid.
Does that seem about right so far?
With us both working full time we'd also have childcare costs so may have to look at the extras we have accounted for in that $5k per money expenditure.
We will be coming with no debts owing in the UK, a clean slate with £20k savings ($30k) after paying visas, flights, shipments etc.
We'd be looking at buying 2 used cars approx $5k each.
I'd be grateful if anyone could advise me on whether this looks realistic to them or not?
In the UK with live in a council home, after bills etc we don't have much money left over each month, we get by pretty good with money to enjoy days out etc but not much after that, we have used cars and have worked hard to get together our savings.
Thankyou for taking the time to read my post.
#2
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
But of course, money isn't everything!
#3
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
OP we all spend different amounts on things like rent, bills and food. I am sure many families will be managing on similar income levels. You are probably right not to assume that you will be much better off financially. I don't think that Australia provides a lifestyle myself, that is all down to you and what you make of it.
If you have thought about it and want to do it, why not.
#4
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Personally I would say choose Melbourne. I am living in perth now and have lived here for about 6 years, with the exception of 8months back in the uk once.
Perth is very expensive and doesnt have the kind of activities and infrastructure that melb/syd have. Its great if you like beaches and paying $10 a pint but I wish I had gone somewhere else and am thinking of doing so in a few months.
There are a lot of good qualitys about perth, it gets more sunshine than anywhere else but in my opinion its a bit backward in many ways. Think 1990's and thats about where perth is these days.
Everyone will tell you something different as everyone has different experiences so it is hard to get a feel for a place from an online forum. Some will rave about it, some will hate it, the truth lies somewhere in between and depends on your experiences when you arrive.
If you can, come over but have a backup plan to move somewhere else after 6 /12 months if you decide its not for you.
Perth is very expensive and doesnt have the kind of activities and infrastructure that melb/syd have. Its great if you like beaches and paying $10 a pint but I wish I had gone somewhere else and am thinking of doing so in a few months.
There are a lot of good qualitys about perth, it gets more sunshine than anywhere else but in my opinion its a bit backward in many ways. Think 1990's and thats about where perth is these days.
Everyone will tell you something different as everyone has different experiences so it is hard to get a feel for a place from an online forum. Some will rave about it, some will hate it, the truth lies somewhere in between and depends on your experiences when you arrive.
If you can, come over but have a backup plan to move somewhere else after 6 /12 months if you decide its not for you.
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 214
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
If you choose suburbs on the northern edges of Perth, then you have fewer hospitals nearby to work in. If you can't get a job at Joondalup Health Campus, then you will have a longer commute, which takes more time and costs more $. If you choose suburbs with more than one hospital nearby, it opens up more options for work and public transport.
You might not have allowed enough $ to buy 2nd hand cars, others would be more knowledgeable than me, but if you're doing shift work and driving long distances, you want a reliable car, not one with no air bags and 250,000 km on the clock. Like many things involving the cost of manpower, mechanical repairs are not cheap.
You would also need to budget for childcare costs for your baby and before-/after-school care for your 4 year old. There are rebates, depending on visa type, but you won't get all of the costs covered and you might be surpised by how much this will cost.
$100k might sound like a lot, but it doesn't seem to go far in Perth.
You might not have allowed enough $ to buy 2nd hand cars, others would be more knowledgeable than me, but if you're doing shift work and driving long distances, you want a reliable car, not one with no air bags and 250,000 km on the clock. Like many things involving the cost of manpower, mechanical repairs are not cheap.
You would also need to budget for childcare costs for your baby and before-/after-school care for your 4 year old. There are rebates, depending on visa type, but you won't get all of the costs covered and you might be surpised by how much this will cost.
$100k might sound like a lot, but it doesn't seem to go far in Perth.
#7
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Perth is great. The only problem is the insane cost of keeping a roof over your head.
#9
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
I thank the good lord above I came here in 2003 and not now and was fortunate enough to get into a decent suburb. It would be a different story today.
#10
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Thankyou all for your honest replies. Our options are wide open for choosing other areas/states. Perth just seemed to be the first we thought of, no particular reason as no friends/family there therefore other states are Definately an option if our joint salary will stretch a bit more in other places aside from Perth.
I used an online Australian calculator which gave estimates of deductions to our salaries based on myself getting $65k and my husband $35k, can't Remeber where I found the calculator now!
Adelaide/Melbourne where also on our list so I quess it's back to spending 10hours + a day browsing forums/posts on those areas!
Thankyou again.
I used an online Australian calculator which gave estimates of deductions to our salaries based on myself getting $65k and my husband $35k, can't Remeber where I found the calculator now!
Adelaide/Melbourne where also on our list so I quess it's back to spending 10hours + a day browsing forums/posts on those areas!
Thankyou again.
#11
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Thankyou all for your honest replies. Our options are wide open for choosing other areas/states. Perth just seemed to be the first we thought of, no particular reason as no friends/family there therefore other states are Definately an option if our joint salary will stretch a bit more in other places aside from Perth.
I used an online Australian calculator which gave estimates of deductions to our salaries based on myself getting $65k and my husband $35k, can't Remeber where I found the calculator now!
Adelaide/Melbourne where also on our list so I quess it's back to spending 10hours + a day browsing forums/posts on those areas!
Thankyou again.
I used an online Australian calculator which gave estimates of deductions to our salaries based on myself getting $65k and my husband $35k, can't Remeber where I found the calculator now!
Adelaide/Melbourne where also on our list so I quess it's back to spending 10hours + a day browsing forums/posts on those areas!
Thankyou again.
I have never fancied Perth myself because it seems too isolated for my liking, but if you can work anywhere and that is where you feel attracted to, then maybe it is for you, it is a very popular choice so there must be something in it.
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
As someone who pays a lot of tax I forget that sometimes 2 people on 100k between them do far better than me on one.
#13
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Extremely doable....
Have you factored in child care?
What if one of you struggles to find work?
Welcome by the way... I'm a nurse... Live in shocking ham, south of perf... We struggle... But there are 10 of us....
Have you factored in child care?
What if one of you struggles to find work?
Welcome by the way... I'm a nurse... Live in shocking ham, south of perf... We struggle... But there are 10 of us....
#14
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 6
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Regarding jobs we won't move until I have at least secured a job or close to it.
Childcare could be an issue, depending on our joint income, so that's another consideration.
Do you know much about community/district nursing in Perth?
I am due to start a community post here in the uk after my maternity as the Monday-Friday suits us great as even in the uk we have no family to help with chidcare and therefore weekends area struggle even here.
Adelaide is next on my list for researching now but Perth is still up there but probably only because I feel I've spent so many months researching it.
Last edited by kacan1; Dec 11th 2012 at 9:13 am.
#15
Re: Is it worthwhile moving to Perth??
Do you know much about community/district nursing in Perth?
I am due to start a community post here in the uk after my maternity as the Monday-Friday suits us great as even in the uk we have no family to help with chidcare and therefore weekends area struggle even here.
t.
I am due to start a community post here in the uk after my maternity as the Monday-Friday suits us great as even in the uk we have no family to help with chidcare and therefore weekends area struggle even here.
t.
I might be inclined to stick with your acute nursing when you get here....