Is Sydney any cheaper than Perth ?

[VERYSTORMY]

We have live in both Perth and Sydney. Accommodation is expensive in both, but more so we found in Sydney.

 

Cost of food was significantly cheaper in Sydney. There have been various news articles on this but nobody has ever explained why it should be.

 

Entertainment (restaurants and bars) were cheaper in Sydney, particularly at the upper end places.

 

As for what the OP's salary gets them it depends a lot on what you are used to and what expenses you have.

 

For those that post that they live on $0.001 a year and get by very well indeed. That's fine, but why would someone want to be somewhere if their living standards were lower than in the UK. Regardless of sunshine. If the OP was used to a lifestyle based on earning £200k in the UK they are going to find Oz a struggle on $220k

[northshorepom]

We’re planning on moving from Essex to Sydney in Oct and am really only waiting for house to be rented out here and to find a job but as I already have analysed and prepared mentally as much as possible for the change, I’m really struggling to keep upbeat at this present time when so many of the talk appears to come across as this is the worst time in recent times to emigrate.

I don't really think that's the case. Sure, the days of bringing a few pounds over here, converting them at $3 to the pound and buying a mansion for $10K are gone (let's face it, they were never there) but as far as you, me and other recent migrants are concerned, that's irrelevant. What's also irrelevant is how much things in Australia cost when converted into pounds, except for the first few weeks when you're spending UK savings on stuff in Aus (and that period you will find it expensive, there's no getting away from it). Once you are earning in dollars and spending in dollars, that's all that need concern you, and there is plenty of work in most walks of life at salaries good enough for a decent life. I should add it's also irrelevant what the average wage is compared to the UK - the only thing that matters is what you personally will earn and you personally will spend.

 

I’m heartened by the replies of how people on lesser incomes manage and equally depressed by the tales of high rent\poor accommodation, food prices, poor exchange rates etc.

Work a budget out based on what you think you will earn. Take what you currently spend in pounds on groceries and double it, you won't be far off (like, if you spend 600 pounds a month, allow $1200). Multiply at about 1.8 for your bills, entertainment and clothing. Convert what you spend on petrol at 1:1 (so you spend 300 GBP a month now, allow A$300). Research rental prices and put a proper figure in there for that. Allow some stuff on top for insurance. Allow $1000-$1500 a year for school kids' uniforms, levies, books and the like, and allow for the fees if you're on a temporary visa. Make an allowance for kids' activities as most spend some money on that. You won't be a million miles off

 

Sorry, guess I’m just getting nervous about the whole thing come here looking for a little reassurance but I can tell you, from my perspective in the UK with the move a few months away, it’s a terrifying time but thank you everyone for your honest tales.

It is terrifying and pointless just saying "relax" - it is nervewracking uprooting your family without any guarantees. Just do as much research as you can, have some honest conversations as a family, stick together and give it a go. The worst that can happen is that you make a mistake and come back, all it will cost you is some money. Don't mean to be flip about it, yes if it doesn't work out you will have wasted some time and cash but you'll still have each other and your health (hopefully!)

 

In short, be prepared, but also be prepared to be surprised. I don't think making a major move like this is ever 100% what any of us expect - we're all surprised by some things

 

Good luck

[Fashionably Late]

I cannot fathom spending that much a week for groceries. We are a family of 5 and our teenager eats insane amounts and my shopping has never been over $300 a week. I buy brand name foods, eat meat every night of the week and I cannot see how you can spend $700 or more per week. Our good friends here have 7 kids and for a family of 9 they only spend $475 a week on average.

[northshorepom]

I think people are getting too hung up on the grocery bill issue. Way back in the thread Rugby Lad and LKC hit on why grocery bills start off much higher and then drop - because you are restocking your store cupboard with stuff that's mostly pretty expensive

[MARYROSE02]

We’re planning on moving from Essex to Sydney in Oct and am really only waiting for house to be rented out here and to find a job but as I already have analysed and prepared mentally as much as possible for the change, I’m really struggling to keep upbeat at this present time when so many of the talk appears to come across as this is the worst time in recent times to emigrate.

I’m heartened by the replies of how people on lesser incomes manage and equally depressed by the tales of high rent\poor accommodation, food prices, poor exchange rates etc.

 

Sorry, guess I’m just getting nervous about the whole thing come here looking for a little reassurance but I can tell you, from my perspective in the UK with the move a few months away, it’s a terrifying time but thank you everyone for your honest tales.

 

Forget all the scare stories - just so much bull**** anyway. I'm off out now at 8.30 to the pub, planning to buy sausages and mash and peas, closer to 930pm as I'm still digesting my Italian 'snack' from the Cafe Scilliano.\

 

You are coming out in October? What a fantastic time to leave the UK - just as it's getting 'autumnal' and the clocks go back so it does not get dark in the middle of the arvo? No, that can't be right. I get's dark by 4pm anyway - so it's light by 8am? If you can call that dull, grey, damp 'daylight?' Definitely not sunlight anyway.

 

And then you arrive in Sydney in the middle of the spring, just as the jacarandahs are getting ready to shoot forth their wonderful, 'here comes summer' purple rain. Violet, I should say, or indigo? Like bluebells on trees anyway!

 

Enjoy!

[Plentymech]

I don't really think that's the case. Sure, the days of bringing a few pounds over here, converting them at $3 to the pound and buying a mansion for $10K are gone (let's face it, they were never there) but as far as you, me and other recent migrants are concerned, that's irrelevant. What's also irrelevant is how much things in Australia cost when converted into pounds, except for the first few weeks when you're spending UK savings on stuff in Oz (and that period you will find it expensive, there's no getting away from it). Once you are earning in dollars and spending in dollars, that's all that need concern you, and there is plenty of work in most walks of life at salaries good enough for a decent life. I should add it's also irrelevant what the average wage is compared to the UK - the only thing that matters is what you personally will earn and you personally will spend.

 

I agree 100% even though I stray from my own conclusion at times. Even now we were just cruising properties around the NB in Sydney and I started to chastise the prices of very average houses when the BH reminded me that what if the exchange rate was at $2.5-£1. "Wouldn't that house sound far more reasonable?" she correctly told me. As said, it's all relative to local earnings.

 

Work a budget out based on what you think you will earn. Take what you currently spend in pounds on groceries and double it, you won't be far off (like, if you spend 600 pounds a month, allow $1200). Multiply at about 1.8 for your bills, entertainment and clothing. Convert what you spend on petrol at 1:1 (so you spend 300 GBP a month now, allow A$300). Research rental prices and put a proper figure in there for that. Allow some stuff on top for insurance. Allow $1000-$1500 a year for school kids' uniforms, levies, books and the like, and allow for the fees if you're on a temporary visa. Make an allowance for kids' activities as most spend some money on that. You won't be a million miles off

 

Good advice. We spend about £700 roughly in the UK with two children (11 & 14). I know it's wrong to convert and stand there mouth agape so will try to remember the sage advice.

 

 

It is terrifying and pointless just saying "relax" - it is nervewracking uprooting your family without any guarantees. Just do as much research as you can, have some honest conversations as a family, stick together and give it a go. The worst that can happen is that you make a mistake and come back, all it will cost you is some money. Don't mean to be flip about it, yes if it doesn't work out you will have wasted some time and cash but you'll still have each other and your health (hopefully!) In short, be prepared, but also be prepared to be surprised. I don't think making a major move like this is ever 100% what any of us expect - we're all surprised by some things

 

Good luck

 

 

Again my thanks for the advice. OH is the impetuous one and I'm the conservative one, great yin and yang combo most the time but I've spent 25 years working to get to a reasonably decent standard of living here and the thought of blowing £50K on what could be just an adventure makes my blood run cold but then again, what if it pans out and we find what we're truly looking for. Sounds cheap at half the price then I reckon.

 

Anyway, I apologise again, I read a lot and post little and conscious of thread hijacking. This was about a comparison between two Oz cities so nothing to do with new meat and conversions but thanks all the same for the words, deeply appreciated.

[PomPrincesses]

We’re planning on moving from Essex to Sydney in Oct and am really only waiting for house to be rented out here and to find a job but as I already have analysed and prepared mentally as much as possible for the change, I’m really struggling to keep upbeat at this present time when so many of the talk appears to come across as this is the worst time in recent times to emigrate.

I’m heartened by the replies of how people on lesser incomes manage and equally depressed by the tales of high rent\poor accommodation, food prices, poor exchange rates etc.

 

Sorry, guess I’m just getting nervous about the whole thing come here looking for a little reassurance but I can tell you, from my perspective in the UK with the move a few months away, it’s a terrifying time but thank you everyone for your honest tales.

 

I have no agenda or opinion on whether you should come out or not, my advice is font come without a job and bring your savings. I had friends tell me it's expensive, I though pah how expensive can it be. Very. Three bags of shopping today including reduced meat. $99. No alcohol, no ciggies. That will last about 2 days.

[Plentymech]

Forget all the scare stories - just so much bull**** anyway. I'm off out now at 8.30 to the pub, planning to buy sausages and mash and peas, closer to 930pm as I'm still digesting my Italian 'snack' from the Cafe Scilliano.\

 

You are coming out in October? What a fantastic time to leave the UK - just as it's getting 'autumnal' and the clocks go back so it does not get dark in the middle of the arvo? No, that can't be right. I get's dark by 4pm anyway - so it's light by 8am? If you can call that dull, grey, damp 'daylight?' Definitely not sunlight anyway.

And then you arrive in Sydney in the middle of the spring, just as the jacarandahs are getting ready to shoot forth their wonderful, 'here comes summer' purple rain. Violet, I should say, or indigo? Like bluebells on trees anyway!

Enjoy!

 

Lovely post, thanks. Yes, October is the plan as the youngest has just finished junior school and supposed to start at senior school in a few weeks which we want to avoid at all costs. I’d prefer to go next spring early summer for financial reasons but harder on the little one as would be so much nicer for her to start high school in Jan with everyone else and yes I’m told spring in Sydney is beautiful.

[MARYROSE02]

Back from the pub, or rather pubS, as I was in all three of my locals. Into the Royal Exhibition first to give a chocolate to one of the barmaids who was ill last week. $4 for a spoon in a little cube of chocolate which you pour hot milk over. I know, total rip off, could have bought a year's supply of Caramac at ASDA, but it's a specialised chocolate shop in Rose Bay. She gave me a drink which was nice of her.

 

Next, up to the Strawberry Hills to see my mate Kurt and we took one of the young barmaids there up to the Trinity Bar to shout her dinner as it was her birthday last week. $75 for two sausage, mash and peas, one burger and chips, and five schooners, and the landlord shouted us the three coffees. Again, I know, I KNOW I should be converting that 75 bucks to sterling, indulging in sharp intakes of breath, and complaining that we could have eaten for a week in a Pommie pub on that. But here, it's three or four hours work for me and it's fun to go out to places with friends where the staff also know you and want to socialise with you.

 

One last beer back at the Strawberry Hills and the manager there gave me the Sunday paper to take home.

 

All in all, a very pleasant evening but perhaps I would have been better off telling everybody I met about how awful and how expensive everything is compared to Utopia.

[bubbe2005]

PP, what do you and your OH do for a living?

[paul1977]

Back from the pub, or rather pubS, as I was in all three of my locals. Into the Royal Exhibition first to give a chocolate to one of the barmaids who was ill last week. $4 for a spoon in a little cube of chocolate which you pour hot milk over. I know, total rip off, could have bought a year's supply of Caramac at ASDA, but it's a specialised chocolate shop in Rose Bay. She gave me a drink which was nice of her.

 

Next, up to the Strawberry Hills to see my mate Kurt and we took one of the young barmaids there up to the Trinity Bar to shout her dinner as it was her birthday last week. $75 for two sausage, mash and peas, one burger and chips, and five schooners, and the landlord shouted us the three coffees. Again, I know, I KNOW I should be converting that 75 bucks to sterling, indulging in sharp intakes of breath, and complaining that we could have eaten for a week in a Pommie pub on that. But here, it's three or four hours work for me and it's fun to go out to places with friends where the staff also know you and want to socialise with you.

 

One last beer back at the Strawberry Hills and the manager there gave me the Sunday paper to take home.

 

All in all, a very pleasant evening but perhaps I would have been better off telling everybody I met about how awful and how expensive everything is compared to Utopia.

As you live on the cheap side of the country what you said above would of cost me 120 dollars in my local pub, think your self lucky you don't pay Perth prices..

[Georgiajoe]

I don't really think that's the case. Sure, the days of bringing a few pounds over here, converting them at $3 to the pound and buying a mansion for $10K are gone (let's face it, they were never there) but as far as you, me and other recent migrants are concerned, that's irrelevant. What's also irrelevant is how much things in Australia cost when converted into pounds, except for the first few weeks when you're spending UK savings on stuff in Aus (and that period you will find it expensive, there's no getting away from it). Once you are earning in dollars and spending in dollars, that's all that need concern you, and there is plenty of work in most walks of life at salaries good enough for a decent life. I should add it's also irrelevant what the average wage is compared to the UK - the only thing that matters is what you personally will earn and you personally will spend.

 

 

Work a budget out based on what you think you will earn. Take what you currently spend in pounds on groceries and double it, you won't be far off (like, if you spend 600 pounds a month, allow $1200). Multiply at about 1.8 for your bills, entertainment and clothing. Convert what you spend on petrol at 1:1 (so you spend 300 GBP a month now, allow A$300). Research rental prices and put a proper figure in there for that. Allow some stuff on top for insurance. Allow $1000-$1500 a year for school kids' uniforms, levies, books and the like, and allow for the fees if you're on a temporary visa. Make an allowance for kids' activities as most spend some money on that. You won't be a million miles off

 

 

It is terrifying and pointless just saying "relax" - it is nervewracking uprooting your family without any guarantees. Just do as much research as you can, have some honest conversations as a family, stick together and give it a go. The worst that can happen is that you make a mistake and come back, all it will cost you is some money. Don't mean to be flip about it, yes if it doesn't work out you will have wasted some time and cash but you'll still have each other and your health (hopefully!)

 

In short, be prepared, but also be prepared to be surprised. I don't think making a major move like this is ever 100% what any of us expect - we're all surprised by some things

 

Good luck

 

I wish everyone would post as true and honest as yoou

 

Thank you

[Wellers and Whitehead]

Hi, just wondered why u hated your job so much? What is your occupation?we live in cronulla (southern Sydney) we are a couple and are living in a nice 2 bed flat in street behind the beach and that's $495 week, it takes an hour by train to get to work which flies by. my boyfriend was working crazy hours so he's had 3 Weeks off work, I was on 27 an hour, but now on $44 so can afford for him to not work at the mo, its great, ad he's a chef so I come home to home made dinner, house cleaned etc. we spend couple of hundred $ on food (if that) a week, including cat food, we did start off in Perth and did find food expensive but we had just arrived from the UK so looked expensive comparing, but can't remember how different it was to Sydney, sorry. The first few Weeks are the most expensive, people say you gave to give it about 2 years to settle in!?

[Skani]

Three bags of shopping today including reduced meat. $99. No alcohol, no ciggies. That will last about 2 days.

 

That works out at about $350 a week, which would be a fair average for a family of 5. A bit different from the $1000 a week you were told was common. Alcohol and ciggies are part of the entertainment budget, not groceries.

[PomPrincesses]

That works out at about $350 a week, which would be a fair average for a family of 5. A bit different from the $1000 a week you were told was common. Alcohol and ciggies are part of the entertainment budget, not groceries.

Which would be fine if I hadn't already done the weekly cereal, sauces, bread, milk etc shop the day before. This was top up shopping on top of the $250 already spent.

[PomPrincesses]

PP, what do you and your OH do for a living?

Medical

[bubbe2005]

Medical

 

RN to be precise?

[MARYROSE02]

As you live on the cheap side of the country what you said above would of cost me 120 dollars in my local pub, think your self lucky you don't pay Perth prices..

 

That is the so-called 'Paradise Penalty Payment' levied on all Perthees by Julia & Wayne so we paupers in the so-called 'Eastern States' do not feel like second-class citizens.

[PomPrincesses]

RN to be precise?

No but given this is the Internet I'm not being precise

[Laguna]

I don't see how it really matters if you just said nurse or doctor. Anyway from what I can tell reading through all the posts I think food bills are pretty much the same as they are in Brisbane. But rents are definitely more expensive in Perth. We pay $450 a week for a nice four bedroom house in Brisbane and are moving to Perth at the end of the year as hubby is already there working. We are looking at rentals of about $600 to get the equivalent of what we have here.

[Paul1Perth]

If your hubby is on $140,000 and you are on $80,000 and you are struggling to get by in Perth you will struggle to get by anywhere. They are brilliant salaries and you must be doing something wrong.

[Guest JK2510]

We have a combined salary of $120-$125k and we can afford to pay rent,days out,utilities,Internet for 2 houses(long story!),car finance,we have just booked a holiday Sydney,Vegas and new York...now there are many luxuries mentioned and we are doing fine...feed 3 kids,2adults and 2 dogs....I too can't work out where you think your combined salaries aren't enough....I couldn't even imagine at what a typical Australian puts in their trolley to allow $1000....not far off the average take home weekly salary!

[Paul1Perth]

I've just returned from a week in Sydney on a work trip. The beer is cheaper around Kings Cross than in Perth, that's for sure. Ate out but work are paying so went to some decent restaurants. I know Sydney for eating out better than I do Perth as we've had a lot of trips over and eat out all the time. There are good value restaurants with excellent food and there are rip offs with average food. Some charge exorbitant prices because they have a "famous" chefs name on the restaurant.

 

We went for a meal out in Joondalup last night to Kulcha. Me the wife and our youngest, starters, mains and drinks, really good food and heaps of it for around $22 a head.

 

Been there loads of times and I don't know how they do it for the price, brilliant.

[Laguna]

Actually someone has just pointed out to me that perhaps PomPrincesses comment might not actually be true. I hadn't even thought of that. Perhaps she is making it all up just to have a laugh because it is pretty unbelievable for most of us ha ha ha

[PomPrincesses]

My experience is my experience you are entitled to an opinion but that doesn't entitle you to call me a liar. As for not managing anywhere well we did manage on a lot less money in the UK so that simply isn't the case either.