Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Hi.

I may have the opportunity of a job in Vancouver as a senior geologist for a large mining company based there.

However, i know very little about Canada and was wondering if anyone could offer advice on what the cost of living is like compared to Perth where we currently live?

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Gas ia about $1.30 per litre
Car insurance about $1,500 per year
Food prices here http://www.realcanadiansuperstore.ca...44&storeId=835

House prices are through the roof depending on where you live.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

My sister lives in Perth. The cost of living is higher in Perth.

http://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-li...y-2012_350.cfm

http://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-li...a-Perth_13.cfm

http://www.xpatulator.com/cost-of-li...ncouver_42.cfm

http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-li...rth/vancouver?

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

It all depends on where you want to live. If your workplace is in the Vancouver core (and you want to limit your commuting time) your housing costs will be shocking. I suspect the cost of consumer goods will be significantly cheaper than Perth due to a larger, more accessible population (and near the US border). Have a look at mls.ca for an idea of housing costs. Others on here will be able to enlighten you on the delights of commuter life in the the lower mainland.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

I'm guessing that Perth is just as boring as Vancouver. Mind you Vancouver has nice scenery.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

a fellow aussie described vancouver as perth with mountains..... i personally would take the opportunity over perth any day. given perth doesnt have sunday trading and closes at 3pm daily... i'd say youre going to be in for a shock when it comes to choice of things to do, eat, see, play etc.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Well, Perth may be like Vancouver, but you have the entire US of A right beneath you, unlike Perth.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

no but it does have near perfect weather and most of asia is 4hrs away

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Indeed. I have a child who lives in Vancouver. Right now she's in San Francisco, having bicycled there. If you're in Perth and have no money (but firm young thighs) where can you go?

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

she could cycle to the worlds most livable city... melbourne :D

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Is this true of Perth?

Author Bill Bryson states that Perth is the most remote city on earth, which he justifies by noting that the population of metropolitan Perth is greater than the combined populations of the rest of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia, west of Adelaide.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

"most" of asia was probably a bit optimistic ... certainly closer to asia than east coast australia.... perth is 4 hrs to jakarta or bali, 5 hrs to singapore, 6 hrs to bangkok, 7.5 hrs to honkers, 9 hrs to tokyo... well serviced by the cheap lcc airlines - airasia/jetstar/tiger

if you love the beach lifestyle than with its sensational weather it does tick some boxes... but shit, it's boring as hell lol

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

It depends on your situation.

My sister has lived in Perth with her husband for the past year. They have no kids and are very active - they like to socialize and travel. They are in their early 40s but still think they are in their 20s. They are already bored in Perth and ready to move back east (e.g. Sydney or Gold Coast).

My wife's cousin (in her late 30s) moved to Perth within the last year with her husband and kids. They absolutely love it.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Perth is very easy to tire off being a couple. It doesn't take long to exhaust what is available. The social life is a little predictable. It is best suited for those with young children and/or in high paying mining jobs.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

We go to the beaches fairly frequently , but hardly anyone else we know does bar one (she is from Czech Rep) others did years ago when first arrived but no longer.

Not sure just how deep the beach culture goes here. Saw a figure that stated 10% of pop go to beaches.....

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Well quite likely but we're not talking many people in those regions...

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

I've lived in both VS. If it were me, I would take the job in Vancouver and give it a go for a couple of years. You've got Australian citizenship, don't you? If you don't like it you can always come back - maybe take a year's sabatical from your job here while you see whether Vancouver's right for you?

I may be a tad biased being Canadian, though. ;)

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Vancouver is closer to Europe

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

A real mining (producing) company or one of the shysters (juniors)? There are quite a few of the latter in Vancouver.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

i excitedly came out of Perth airport after flying in from Indonesia and it was -1c. I was so shocked i almost dropped my beer.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

They transported criminals to Australia for a reason.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Thanks for the replies guys. The job is with one of the larger mining companies. Not sure of the pay but it looks like the average rates in Canada are significantly lower than Perth. Hence why it's important I get some idea on cost of living as if costs are significantly cheaper in Canada then having a lower income is fine, but if they are similar then it's not worth it. Salary here is about $160k but it looks like the average in Vancouver would be about $120k so need to figure out if I would get the same standard of living.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

That's a 25% drop in salary. Perth does have a higher cost of living but I'm not sure if you'll be a bit worse off in Vancouver or not.

http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-li...rth/vancouver?

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Eh? According to the Bank of Canada (but who believes them?), AUS $160K is worth C$ 177.2K today.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

$120k in Vancouver should be ok. You'll find the costs of food and clothing so much cheaper there. Petrol is about the same, housing roughly the same (depending on where you want to live there are some bargains), eating out is cheaper but don't forget to add 10-15% for tip and overall I think utilities are less. You won't have the same need for aircon you have here, and surprisingly the houses are insulated so you won't freeze your ass off all winter!

I would say you would get about the same standard of living over there. $120k is a decent salary, probably on par with $160k here.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

According to XE (just now) the 2 currencies are trading roughly at par.

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amoun...rom=AUD&To=CAD

AUD 160,000 = CAD 163,880 (approx)

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

it's always worth pointing that out to them regularly

things have likley changed, but when i was there 20yrs back the tv was shocking - most popular show was on saturday night and had morphed from a kids daytime show - an aussie version of keith harris and orville

the aussies you meet travelling and not quite the same mold as the downunder good ol boys

the weathers great mind

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

I agree with what Dorothy said.

Personally though, I know Vancouver's not for us (aside from being a great place for stopovers). The climate would drive me up the wall and the housing prices generally tend to make Perth's look good (and that's saying a lot).

Give it a try. You never know...

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

I've lived in both and am getting ready to leave Perth to permanently move to Alberta. Alberta is a lot cheaper than perth, Vancouver I would say is cheaper if you take away housing prices. So as for living costs beyond the mortgage / rent situation I would say you would be better off in Vancouver. For the housing, I'm not sure as I haven't been to Vancouver for 3 years so it may have changed too much to comment. But Perth isn't exactly affordable

You are going from no rain, to lots of rain as far as weather comparison goes, plus you won't get those hot summer runs that you get here (thankfully).

I would pick Vancouver in a heart beat though! Like someone else said, give it a shot and keep moving if it doesn't work out!

Good Luck!

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

last time i went OZ the customs fella asked if i had a criminal record. I said, " I didn't think you needed one anymore!"

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

last time i went OZ the customs fella asked if i had a criminal record. I said, "here's a copy of the frog chorus by paul mccartney!"

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

i was under the impression that it gets a fair bit of rain in winter time in perth?

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Yes but he's looking for good things about Canada, not things even Canadians would rather forget.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Yes and that reason was the Americans had a revolution and stopped them sending the criminals to Virginia.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

There usually is. This year was pretty dry for us, though. Cold, but dry.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

my brother was there and he said that he was surprised at the amount of rain there and he's a manc!

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

what's wrong with having access to the USA? Its one thing to visit and not have to live there;). Vancouver is part of the Pacific North West as such washington state and oregon, even northern California are accessible without too much trouble.

We live 2 blocks from the border and can nip over for cheaper shopping and gas and be back within the hour.

Although I suppose to some endless dry tundra may be more appealing

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

Than the US? Definitely.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

I just got back from a 2k walk on a white beach with palm trees and saw two people on it. The beach is 30 seconds from my front door. Once, at sunset I noticed a dolphin a few metres out and she swam in circles for me and called out. I was the only person on the beach and we watched each other for two or three minutes. In 20 minutes I'm in a busy CBD with everything I need, and another 20 minutes after that I'm in hills covered in the world's best vineyards. I often saunter up there to visit a few cellar doors on a Sunday, and sit under a nice vine-covered trellis I know and enjoy free tasting for an hour or so. When we return we sit in the garden and listen to the parrots and lorikeets in the wattle as we sample our purchases. Hopefully, the reason the roads are so empty here is because so many people are labouring under the illusion that we live in "dry tundra" conditions like something out of Mad Max.

The commercial value of the Malls of America pilgrimage that Canadians enjoy has no appeal to me whatsoever.

Re: Comparison to Perth Australia?
 

thought we were talking about perth....