Cost of living
May 24th 2013, 11:12 am
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 31
Cost of living
Hi everyone. I have just submitted my international application for WA Police. In doing my research I noticed that the house prices and rent of a 3 bed house are well outside my price range. Not just in the CBDs but all over. How do you afford a house and still live on a police wage. Many thanks in advance. Phil
May 25th 2013, 8:31 am
#2
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 31
Re: Cost of living
Hi again, I noticed that I seem to be the only post with no answers. Have I done something wrong?
May 25th 2013, 9:08 am
#3
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,810
Re: Cost of living
May 25th 2013, 9:10 am
#4
Living the dream in WA
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 315
Re: Cost of living
There are a number of threads on the cost of living on the site, so unfortunately yours is not a new topic, but I have researched this as I've applied and had the same concerns.
I calculated that on the salary whilst at the academy, it would be very tight, taking home approx $1,100 a week. But I had budgeted for everything in that, rent, bills, car, insurance, TV, phones, food, some entertainment (not much), just the essentials for living. Don't forget that WAPol are due a salary increase in July, which will add another $3-4,000 a year to your basic salary. After you finish at the academy, your salary will increase by approx $5,000 and then you'll be earring shift penalties and overtime. I've been told to add about $150 a week. Plus, if you have children you may be eligible for child benefit (most new comers wait to claim this at the end of the first year so they don't end up paying back money, apparently) and also rent assistance.
This is what I've been told/researched from this site and others. While it might seem thight initially most seem to survive and once you're out of the academy, things will get easier.
What is the rent of places you've been looking at? I've seen some nice places around $450-500 a week in reasonable suburbs.
The other thing I've been told is that very few households only have one income, if its just you then you should be ok, but if you're a family then your partner/wife will need to find work. No point in going and struggling to live.
Here is a post I put on a few months ago http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=784628
You'll see there's a variety of opinions, and I've got the initial rent at $400, which I've since upped.
Hope that helps, but you've got to be sure you can survive over there before making the jump. If you can't, or think it'll be a struggle even earning potentially $100k a year, then don't do it. It'll only make you want to return to the UK more. However, if you're to going to be any worse off in Austin, and can cope with a fantastic quality/way of life then go for it.
Just my opinions, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime. For me as an Aussie in the UK, I'm jumping at it and will be doing everything I can to go.
I calculated that on the salary whilst at the academy, it would be very tight, taking home approx $1,100 a week. But I had budgeted for everything in that, rent, bills, car, insurance, TV, phones, food, some entertainment (not much), just the essentials for living. Don't forget that WAPol are due a salary increase in July, which will add another $3-4,000 a year to your basic salary. After you finish at the academy, your salary will increase by approx $5,000 and then you'll be earring shift penalties and overtime. I've been told to add about $150 a week. Plus, if you have children you may be eligible for child benefit (most new comers wait to claim this at the end of the first year so they don't end up paying back money, apparently) and also rent assistance.
This is what I've been told/researched from this site and others. While it might seem thight initially most seem to survive and once you're out of the academy, things will get easier.
What is the rent of places you've been looking at? I've seen some nice places around $450-500 a week in reasonable suburbs.
The other thing I've been told is that very few households only have one income, if its just you then you should be ok, but if you're a family then your partner/wife will need to find work. No point in going and struggling to live.
Here is a post I put on a few months ago http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=784628
You'll see there's a variety of opinions, and I've got the initial rent at $400, which I've since upped.
Hope that helps, but you've got to be sure you can survive over there before making the jump. If you can't, or think it'll be a struggle even earning potentially $100k a year, then don't do it. It'll only make you want to return to the UK more. However, if you're to going to be any worse off in Austin, and can cope with a fantastic quality/way of life then go for it.
Just my opinions, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime. For me as an Aussie in the UK, I'm jumping at it and will be doing everything I can to go.
May 25th 2013, 1:27 pm
#5
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 79
Re: Cost of living
There are a number of threads on the cost of living on the site, so unfortunately yours is not a new topic, but I have researched this as I've applied and had the same concerns.
I calculated that on the salary whilst at the academy, it would be very tight, taking home approx $1,100 a week. But I had budgeted for everything in that, rent, bills, car, insurance, TV, phones, food, some entertainment (not much), just the essentials for living. Don't forget that WAPol are due a salary increase in July, which will add another $3-4,000 a year to your basic salary. After you finish at the academy, your salary will increase by approx $5,000 and then you'll be earring shift penalties and overtime. I've been told to add about $150 a week. Plus, if you have children you may be eligible for child benefit (most new comers wait to claim this at the end of the first year so they don't end up paying back money, apparently) and also rent assistance.
This is what I've been told/researched from this site and others. While it might seem thight initially most seem to survive and once you're out of the academy, things will get easier.
What is the rent of places you've been looking at? I've seen some nice places around $450-500 a week in reasonable suburbs.
The other thing I've been told is that very few households only have one income, if its just you then you should be ok, but if you're a family then your partner/wife will need to find work. No point in going and struggling to live.
Here is a post I put on a few months ago http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=784628
You'll see there's a variety of opinions, and I've got the initial rent at $400, which I've since upped.
Hope that helps, but you've got to be sure you can survive over there before making the jump. If you can't, or think it'll be a struggle even earning potentially $100k a year, then don't do it. It'll only make you want to return to the UK more. However, if you're to going to be any worse off in Austin, and can cope with a fantastic quality/way of life then go for it.
Just my opinions, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime. For me as an Aussie in the UK, I'm jumping at it and will be doing everything I can to go.
I calculated that on the salary whilst at the academy, it would be very tight, taking home approx $1,100 a week. But I had budgeted for everything in that, rent, bills, car, insurance, TV, phones, food, some entertainment (not much), just the essentials for living. Don't forget that WAPol are due a salary increase in July, which will add another $3-4,000 a year to your basic salary. After you finish at the academy, your salary will increase by approx $5,000 and then you'll be earring shift penalties and overtime. I've been told to add about $150 a week. Plus, if you have children you may be eligible for child benefit (most new comers wait to claim this at the end of the first year so they don't end up paying back money, apparently) and also rent assistance.
This is what I've been told/researched from this site and others. While it might seem thight initially most seem to survive and once you're out of the academy, things will get easier.
What is the rent of places you've been looking at? I've seen some nice places around $450-500 a week in reasonable suburbs.
The other thing I've been told is that very few households only have one income, if its just you then you should be ok, but if you're a family then your partner/wife will need to find work. No point in going and struggling to live.
Here is a post I put on a few months ago http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=784628
You'll see there's a variety of opinions, and I've got the initial rent at $400, which I've since upped.
Hope that helps, but you've got to be sure you can survive over there before making the jump. If you can't, or think it'll be a struggle even earning potentially $100k a year, then don't do it. It'll only make you want to return to the UK more. However, if you're to going to be any worse off in Austin, and can cope with a fantastic quality/way of life then go for it.
Just my opinions, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime. For me as an Aussie in the UK, I'm jumping at it and will be doing everything I can to go.
May 25th 2013, 6:37 pm
#6
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2013
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 31
Re: Cost of living
Thanks guys, just need to wait and see what happens with the application. Does anyone know what the medical is like.?
May 25th 2013, 7:15 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 57
Re: Cost of living
Spudboy
Likewise $$ is my concern too. I've got a 2bed house in uk easy travel into town for work. Concerned I won't get the same in Oz but yet want to make the move.
My application is stuck n Singapore hope it gets to Wapol by Weds.
My other concern is come next July I'm going to be 200/300 a month better off mortgage wise.
Likewise $$ is my concern too. I've got a 2bed house in uk easy travel into town for work. Concerned I won't get the same in Oz but yet want to make the move.
My application is stuck n Singapore hope it gets to Wapol by Weds.
My other concern is come next July I'm going to be 200/300 a month better off mortgage wise.
May 29th 2013, 6:17 am
#8
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 25
Re: Cost of living
Also, one funny thing about WA is that your mortgage repayments can end up being lower than rent if you're prepared to build a new 3x2 or 4x2 townhouse in the southern suburbs.
Jun 2nd 2013, 12:52 pm
#9
Almost there...
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Living The Dream, no really I am.
Posts: 409
Re: Cost of living
I'm not worrying too much about the cost of living. I don't expect to be significantly better off financially. I'm doing it for the experience and the better quality of life. I know I'll always regret it if I don't give it a go.
Jun 6th 2013, 8:19 am
#10
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6
Re: Cost of living
Try a website called Numbeo. It gives comparisons between UK cities and pretty much any other city across the world for living expenses.
Jun 6th 2013, 1:01 pm
#11
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,810
Re: Cost of living
http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=54
