before moving, scared of living cost in Australia, any idea?

Hi Everyone,

We were in Alberta and later year moved to Vancouver for better weather, unfortunately to us Vancouver does not have a hot summer and no sunshine during the winter for months is a big problem. Now we got our Australia PR visa, thinking of moving and doing researching on the living cost, Wow, that is so expensive!

Vancouver is an very expensive place mostly because of the expensive house, but interests rate is so low in Canada these years, having mortgage of $500k+ only have $1800 monthly repayment, grocery and others just very cheap, gas is bit expensive compare to Alberta, but acceptable, cloth, electronics are many chooses and not expensive at all, one family have one person working earning $70k could made life going though not too much left.

I did online research in Australia, house is expensive, interests rate is SO high, 6% plus, to own a place to live with mortgage $500k+ is about $2800 monthly repayment, grocery, meat price is 1.5 to double of Canada, Vegi is about double, see food, Australia is surrounded by ocean, but price is much more expensive than Vancouver; Gas, $1.6/L, vehicle, a used car worth $2000 in Vancouver, is priced $4000 in Australia, clothing and baby toys, everything seems much expensive at all! Average earning of Australian is about 20-30% more than Canadian at most, but living cost is much much more. Apparently if one guy works earning $70k may not be enough to support a family of three.

In Canada in person works in one family is pretty common, I am a IT pro and my wife looks after baby, does not work. does that mean to have a same life quality, in Australia two persons have to go work? (In ACT, when asking for affordable housing, government asking the family income is lower or higher $120K)

Am I worth to make this move just because of weather, loss the quality of living and put myself into a stress condition?

The uneployment rate in Australia is always much lower than Canada and it appears the available jobs in job seeking website is about 5-10 times more than Canada, (in Vancouver and Toronto finding job is not that easy), people in Australia should lead a good life there, but do you feel they leading a more relaxed life than Canadian?

Anyone experiences similar feeling as I do when you moved to Australia? How would you get used to it? Or I am wrong and got wrong information from internet?

Any advises are appreciated!

Thanks
NTS

Grass is not always green on the other side, well it is brown in Australia.

Australia is 33% more expensive than Canada in General.( you are right,you would need double income to survive here, unless you income is $100K above , while the tax rate is 24-33% which is again higher than Canada)

House- More expensive (unless you go, outback = which would be same as canada)In major city house would be far more expensive ( your hard earn cash does not go far here)


Other general item - food,grocery, cloth, entertainment, gas etc would be atleast 13-22% more expensive)

I have lived in Sydney/Melbourne and TO, my first hand experience : Aus Weather is better ( 30-45 in Summer and 10-17 in Winter ) but thats about it, we are still in 80's and 90's ( Infrastructure, technology , wise, suburbs are outright still way backward compared to Can)

Mate, stay back, stay put for all the right reason, in your safe heaven, the move is not worth taking,unless you would wish to have an experience of relocation.

GFC - as hard hit as anyone in the western world. unemployment rate is 5.5% but in actual it is 8.9%

As far as IT industry, salary is concerned it is reasonable comparable to your home country ( not very hard to get a job in this field )but again it would be 70K to 100K plus depends on your experience.


You would definitely need an income of 80K and still live a very subnominal life in Australia.

Will not recommend unless, you would have been from 3rd world country, cuz Canada and Australia have very similar lifestyle, Canada is much more green and beautiful ,we are dry semi arid /desert land.

Australia offers a great lifestyle if you are wealthy.

Agreed. Especially if you have any children. This adds so much more to the equation in costs......

You've got to remember too. That Australian jobs pay more in general. Most Australians earn much more than 60k+ A year. Minimum wage per hour here is $15. In Canada it's $9. I've never earned less than $16/per hour and that was at 18.

Retail pays 21.50 for people over 20. It keeps rising until it reaches $25 at age of 24.

Thanks everyone for reply and useful information.

I did a bit further research, found a bit reasons might explain why the price are high,

1: Canada next to U.S, which benefit from the low price and huge selection of available products and resale channels, while Australia not.
2: Australia charge 10% duty on everything import, every single thing, while in Canada lot of thing are duty free when import.
3: Business tax in Australia is 30% no matter what companies, Canada can be 16-20% depends on different provinces.
4: Australia pay more wage than Canada, so business they have get more margin to pay 30% tax and higher wages, Canada is much less.
5: AUD$ is hot and welcome in global financial market these years, that raise up the interests rate sky high, the consequence is Australian have to pay high mortgage interests rates for same housing.

it is true make more money should be ok for cost more, but depends, if two work, two make more that double the income, while single works, even if paid more, could be hard still, I guess, say for example, I make 70k in Canada, and make 90k in Australia, may not help much.

correct me if I am wrong, thanks!

it is true make more money should be ok for cost more, but depends, if two work, two make more that double the income, while single works, even if paid more, could be hard still, I guess, say for example, I make 70k in Canada, and make 90k in Australia, may not help much.

correct me if I am wrong, thanks!

What is your real reason to move to OZ - is it the lifestyle, the climate, safety, money or just to get away from where you're at right now.

I think you mentioned in the OP its mainly the climate - well, in OZ you can get mild, moderate or blazing stinking hot.

As for the economics of it all comparisons -as a rough guide see here

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/co ... ry2=Canada

The bank rate and interests rates are indeed higher in OZ

Suggest that you read the on-line Australian newspapers to get the real info, events and classified ads

Also, before you make the leap of faith, that you consider spending a few grand and make a visit - 2-3 weeks, travel across OZ

it is true make more money should be ok for cost more, but depends, if two work, two make more that double the income, while single works, even if paid more, could be hard still, I guess, say for example, I make 70k in Canada, and make 90k in Australia, may not help much.

correct me if I am wrong, thanks!

What is your real reason to move to OZ - is it the lifestyle, the climate, safety, money or just to get away from where you're at right now.

I think you mentioned in the OP its mainly the climate - well, in OZ you can get mild, moderate or blazing stinking hot.

As for the economics of it all comparisons -as a rough guide see here

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/co ... ry2=Canada

The bank rate and interests rates are indeed higher in OZ

Suggest that you read the on-line Australian newspapers to get the real info, events and classified ads

Also, before you make the leap of faith, that you consider spending a few grand and make a visit - 2-3 weeks, travel across OZ

Thanks a lot for the inputs! The all comparisions website is very helpful! Reading local newspaper online should be very helpful too! You are right, I will go for a visit in the near future.