Realistic advice on Sydney

[Captain Roberto]

aha!

 

Well without meaning any upset to other posters on PIO, but I tend to find that most comments and advice on here to have a generally cautious/negative tendency. I'm sure these people mean well, but it's not that helpful in my experience.

 

I haven't lived anywhere else in Australia, but I'd agree with @Rallyman and say that Sydney does has lots to offer. In our case it takes a little while to get things moving, but we seem to do ok here. It's hard to explain really. Some things are expensive (rent/mortgage/property) - groceries are probably a little more expensive for soem things (vegetables out of season etc), but some food is cheaper.

 

But loads of things are way cheaper, including all forms of transport (trains, buses, fuel). Cars are maybe equal. Wine is cheap! They have H&M.

 

To cut a long story short, it should feel like everything is more expensive, but once you get into the swing of things, we feel like we do ok here. It all seems to somehow balance out, I can't say how exactly, but it works. We never had spare money in the UK and we don't have loads here, but we get by, and we eat out more here.

 

My wife is a clinical care specialist (Nurse) and I am a designer/animator and we do ok (although it probably works best when we both work full time). We are also from North Wales and feel that life has a whole lot more to offer here. Summer is coming, it's warming up again. We think it's good. Our kids do more outdoor stuff, and my eldest went to a gig with her mates last night with her mates in the train. That would never happen in Wrexham... They al have mates in school from all over the place. Their parents are from Singapore, India, China, Hungary, Iran, Manchester. There are even a few Australians!

 

This is our perspective coming from a not so exciting town in Wales. Sydney works well if you think positive, get your head down and get the work done and just get on with it.

 

Also if it helps, our income this last year has been maybe a bit more like $130 - $140 - but should go up by $20k this year as we are now both in a better place workwise. So I think $150k would be ok. I have mates who have quite 'fancy' higher paid jobs, but they have young kids and their wives don't work, and they do ok too.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Captain Roberto

[amyt]

aha!

 

Well without meaning any upset to other posters on PIO, but I tend to find that most comments and advice on here to have a generally cautious/negative tendency. I'm sure these people mean well, but it's not that helpful in my experience.

 

I haven't lived anywhere else in Australia, but I'd agree with @Rallyman and say that Sydney does has lots to offer. In our case it takes a little while to get things moving, but we seem to do ok here. It's hard to explain really. Some things are expensive (rent/mortgage/property) - groceries are probably a little more expensive for soem things (vegetables out of season etc), but some food is cheaper.

 

But loads of things are way cheaper, including all forms of transport (trains, buses, fuel). Cars are maybe equal. Wine is cheap! They have H&M.

 

To cut a long story short, it should feel like everything is more expensive, but once you get into the swing of things, we feel like we do ok here. It all seems to somehow balance out, I can't say how exactly, but it works. We never had spare money in the UK and we don't have loads here, but we get by, and we eat out more here.

 

My wife is a clinical care specialist (Nurse) and I am a designer/animator and we do ok (although it probably works best when we both work full time). We are also from North Wales and feel that life has a whole lot more to offer here. Summer is coming, it's warming up again. We think it's good. Our kids do more outdoor stuff, and my eldest went to a gig with her mates last night with her mates in the train. That would never happen in Wrexham... They al have mates in school from all over the place. Their parents are from Singapore, India, China, Hungary, Iran, Manchester. There are even a few Australians!

 

This is our perspective coming from a not so exciting town in Wales. Sydney works well if you think positive, get your head down and get the work done and just get on with it.

 

Also if it helps, our income this last year has been maybe a bit more like $130 - $140 - but should go up by $20k this year as we are now both in a better place workwise. So I think $150k would be ok. I have mates who have quite 'fancy' higher paid jobs, but they have young kids and their wives don't work, and they do ok too.

 

 

Thank you for this. I think we come from similar lives in Wales in that we used to live in the mining valleys of South Wales where there is nothing really aside from houses. Very little to do, no businesses etc so have always commuted to work and had to pay to go and do anything as nothing to do close by. We moved to a small village now nearer Cardiff but still it's quiet and we both commute for work. It's only been maybe the last 3 years we have had a bit of a more comfortable life as our earnings increased and we moved house.

Can I ask where do you live now in Sydney?

[Captain Roberto]

We live in Killara (north shore, 3 stops up from Chatswood) until Wednesday, then we are moving to Newport (northern beaches)

 

Killara has great transport link by train and great schools but is very reserved and conservative in most ways and there isn't much to do especially in the evening and weekends.

 

It's not really for us - hence the move. Northern beaches are very nice but it's takes longer to commute as its buses. It's all very subjective - I'd say Sydney has a wide range of places to live, all the different flavours.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Captain Roberto]

If it helps - despite liking it here, we kind of wished we had maybe looked at Brisbane too as its very hard to buy in Sydney - the kind of house we'd need comes in around 1.3million +

 

Whereas you can get the same or better for half the price in Brisbane. I might not get as much work there though, which makes sydney a good place for us. But Brisbane is a good place. And even in sydney it can take an hour and more to get to work.

 

Not sure if that's an option - or whether you plan on staying long term.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Marisawright]

It's nice to read reassuring posts but do note that while Rallyman started out in Sydney, he's now living exactly where several of us recommend you go - in the Newcastle area! There has to be a reason for that. Also I may be confusing Captain Roberto with someone else, but I could've sworn he was looking at moving to Brisbane at one point for cost reasons.

 

I won't deny the Sydney lifestyle can be great - the only reason I'm not living there is I can't afford it. And I've seen several other posters say they love the lifestyle but realise they have no hope of ever owning a home there, and that's why eventually they have to look elsewhere in Australia or go home.

[LKC]

Hmmm. I though't I'd replied to this, but I can't see my post so I obviously hadn't pressed 'post'. Mind you, I have a bad cold and am currently in a Lemsip-induced delerium, which may be why!

 

I think that if it is only your husband earning a salary, things would be way too tight for comfort. We managed on a similar salary to this when we first arrived a bit under 8 years ago, but it just wouldn't be possible now. You would probably need to factor managing on one salary to start with into your budget (it may take you a while to find a job) and perhaps sacrifice things like a second car until you get on your feet (that's if you have two - we manage with one easily where we live). That said, providing you aren't too worried about living away from the more expensive areas of Sydney, then once you both have jobs you should be okay. It wouldn't give you a life of luxury, but you wouldn't be close to the breadline either, in my opinion. You would of course need to budget for things like childcare during school holidays, school and associated costs (my kids go to public school and I have always got my hand in my pocket!), transportation costs to and from work, rent etc, and in fact I'd always recommend that anyone who is considering making the move to Australia does as much research in this regard as possible and do a budget by using supermarket/insurance/rental company websites etc to get an idea of costs.

 

With regards to areas, Sutherland Shire is nice and we've been really happy here, and wouldn't consider moving to a different area of Sydney. We came from deepest darkest Suffolk, right out in the countryside, and find the area we live in the perfect mix of quiet-ish but with amenities nearby. It is doable to Bondi Junction on the train from Sutherland Shire (with a walk/drive/cycle to one of the stations) on the Illawarra and Eastern Suburbs train line (http://www.sydneytrains.info). People often snub Sutherland Shire as being a bit 'lower class' or bogan/less desirable or something, but I don't really understand why. It is easy to get around, easy to get to the city, the airport and down the coast, it is family friendly and has excellent schools. There are loads of suburbs to choose from which are generally green/leafy and on the edge of the Royal National Park, many of which are far more affordable than other areas of Sydney (although prices are going up here too). Rent varies, depending on whether you live a bit more inland or by the coast (more expensive for obvious reasons)

[Captain Roberto]

It's not simple. And I wasn't saying 'this is a good place over that place'.

 

It's pretty hard to buy for sure. Most people I know who bought started years ago. And I am sure if you buy you will also reap the benefits, If you can survive the first 10 years.

 

The way I see it mortgages are very expensive. But rents are too. It's all expensive.

 

sydney is the 'money' place with lots of opportunity. Not sure how it all adds up yet

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[amyt]

Hmmm. I though't I'd replied to this, but I can't see my post so I obviously hadn't pressed 'post'. Mind you, I have a bad cold and am currently in a Lemsip-induced delerium, which may be why!

 

I think that if it is only your husband earning a salary, things would be way too tight for comfort. We managed on a similar salary to this when we first arrived a bit under 8 years ago, but it just wouldn't be possible now. You would probably need to factor managing on one salary to start with into your budget (it may take you a while to find a job) and perhaps sacrifice things like a second car until you get on your feet (that's if you have two - we manage with one easily where we live). That said, providing you aren't too worried about living away from the more expensive areas of Sydney, then once you both have jobs you should be okay. It wouldn't give you a life of luxury, but you wouldn't be close to the breadline either, in my opinion. You would of course need to budget for things like childcare during school holidays, school and associated costs (my kids go to public school and I have always got my hand in my pocket!), transportation costs to and from work, rent etc, and in fact I'd always recommend that anyone who is considering making the move to Australia does as much research in this regard as possible and do a budget by using supermarket/insurance/rental company websites etc to get an idea of costs.

 

With regards to areas, Sutherland Shire is nice and we've been really happy here, and wouldn't consider moving to a different area of Sydney. We came from deepest darkest Suffolk, right out in the countryside, and find the area we live in the perfect mix of quiet-ish but with amenities nearby. It is doable to Bondi Junction on the train from Sutherland Shire (with a walk/drive/cycle to one of the stations) on the Illawarra and Eastern Suburbs train line (www.sydneytrains.info). People often snub Sutherland Shire as being a bit 'lower class' or bogan/less desirable or something, but I don't really understand why. It is easy to get around, easy to get to the city, the airport and down the coast, it is family friendly and has excellent schools. There are loads of suburbs to choose from which are generally green/leafy and on the edge of the Royal National Park, many of which are far more affordable than other areas of Sydney (although prices are going up here too). Rent varies, depending on whether you live a bit more inland or by the coast (more expensive for obvious reasons)

 

 

Thank you this post is helpful. We have seen lots of people recommending Sutherland shire so would definitely look into that. What school do your children go to? Whilst my husbands job offer comes from a firm based in Bondi junction the work would be all around the eastern suberbs and they try and allocate work to their carpenters closest to where they live. I'd probably need to work in the CBD but would look to work anywhere that I could commute too. We would have childcare costs in school holidays but not for long as our daughter would be a teenager shortly after moving if we did indeed go for it so a few years max. Whilst we would possibly have to rely on my husband wage until I found work if we sold our home here we would probably have about £35k to bring with us as a buffer and to help set us up.

[amyt]

What's the commute like from Newport to Sydney CBD and East suberbs?

[Sammy1]

Thank you this post is helpful. We have seen lots of people recommending Sutherland shire so would definitely look into that. What school do your children go to? Whilst my husbands job offer comes from a firm based in Bondi junction the work would be all around the eastern suberbs and they try and allocate work to their carpenters closest to where they live. I'd probably need to work in the CBD but would look to work anywhere that I could commute too. We would have childcare costs in school holidays but not for long as our daughter would be a teenager shortly after moving if we did indeed go for it so a few years max. Whilst we would possibly have to rely on my husband wage until I found work if we sold our home here we would probably have about £35k to bring with us as a buffer and to help set us up.

 

I am actually a bit worried for you to be honest. If you sell your house you say you will have a 35,000 buffer, that's great. However, I am not sure that you would ever be able to get on the housing ladder again in Sydney. Think seriously about location before you come over.

[starlight7]

Check out all the areas and states you might be interested in on http://www.realestate.com- that will give you an idea of current house prices.

[starlight7]

Should have added .com.au, sorry.

[amyt]

I am actually a bit worried for you to be honest. If you sell your house you say you will have a 35,000 buffer, that's great. However, I am not sure that you would ever be able to get on the housing ladder again in Sydney. Think seriously about location before you come over.

 

We are just sourcing opinions right now, we have not spent any money on this yet as we are investigating it all before we make any decision. If we can't afford it then we won't do it

[Marisawright]

Thank you this post is helpful. We have seen lots of people recommending Sutherland shire so would definitely look into that. What school do your children go to? Whilst my husbands job offer comes from a firm based in Bondi junction

 

If your husband's job is in Bondi Junction and IF he doesn't need to supply his own vehicle, then Sutherland Shire would be perfect for you. Look up the Illawarra Line, which is the train line that runs from Cronulla all the way to Bondi Junction, and consider anywhere on that train line. Cronulla is expensive as it's beachside, but there are plenty of other stops along the way. The closer to the city you get, the dearer! We lived in Oatley which we loved. I would also consider Gymea or Jannali.

 

Do not live on the North Shore if your oh is working in Bondi Junction, and certainly not up as far as Newport. The commute would be horrendous. He needs to be on a train line.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Marisawright

[amyt]

Thank you I will look into this area for sure

[Marisawright]

Thank you I will look into this area for sure

 

I do think along that train line is your best bet for commutability and affordability. I wouldn't want to commute to Bondi Junction from anywhere out West or on the North Shore. However it is still going to be expensive. A two-bedroom maisonette in Oatley will cost you about $800,000. A house will cost you well over $1 million.

[Rallyman]

It's nice to read reassuring posts but do note that while Rallyman started out in Sydney, he's now living exactly where several of us recommend you go - in the Newcastle area! There has to be a reason for that. Also I may be confusing Captain Roberto with someone else, but I could've sworn he was looking at moving to Brisbane at one point for cost reasons.

 

I won't deny the Sydney lifestyle can be great - the only reason I'm not living there is I can't afford it. And I've seen several other posters say they love the lifestyle but realise they have no hope of ever owning a home there, and that's why eventually they have to look elsewhere in Australia or go home.

 

 

We we would come up to the hunter vally from Sydney about every 6-8 weeks for our escape , we have bought land to build our own place, my wife has secured work locally which is a massive help , it's been a bit up and down for me but getting lots of private work now ,not sub contracting. If I have quiet times I call my contacts in Sydney and work down there , the down side is its a 2- 2.15 hrs trip both ways. We can afford to build a house we could only dream of in Sydney up here with out the Masive mortgage. We did miss living on the northern beaches for a while but not now, driving through the vineyards to go to work is pretty good., we have also made a lot more friends up here than we did In Sydney. , The only cost of living difference is the cost of homes.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Rallyman

[Captain Roberto]

What's the commute like from Newport to Sydney CBD and East suberbs?

 

Probably quite long. 1 hour on a bus to Wynyard then on train

 

Possibly 45 mins by car if you leave really early. It's most likely not the right place for an eastern suburbs commute.

 

Maybe try Randwick, Kingsford, Coogee, Little bay, eastlakes, woolharah, Bondi junction area (there's nicer bits around there). That way you'll be much closer to where you need to be.

 

There's a @NickyNook on here who will know a lot more about these areas and will be able to guide you better than I can.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Marisawright]

Probably quite long. 1 hour on a bus to Wynyard then on train

 

Possibly 45 mins by car if you leave really early. It's most likely not the right place for an eastern suburbs commute.

 

Maybe try Randwick, Kingsford, Coogee, Little bay, eastlakes, woolharah, Bondi junction area (there's nicer bits around there). That way you'll be much closer to where you need to be.

 

There's a @NickyNook on here who will know a lot more about these areas and will be able to guide you better than I can.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I very much doubt they could afford any of those places, some of the most expensive in Sydney

[amyt]

We we would come up to the hunter vally from Sydney about every 6-8 weeks for our escape , we have bought land to build our own place, my wife has secured work locally which is a massive help , it's been a bit up and down for me but getting lots of private work now ,not sub contracting. If I have quiet times I call my contacts in Sydney and work down there , the down side is its a 2- 2.15 hrs trip both ways. We can afford to build a house we could only dream of in Sydney up here with out the Masive mortgage. We did miss living on the northern beaches for a while but not now, driving through the vineyards to go to work is pretty good., we have also made a lot more friends up here than we did In Sydney. , The only cost of living difference is the cost of homes.

 

So it it Newcastle where you are based now? My husband is keen on Newcastle given that he has a close friend living there. I don't know much about Newcastle. Would you say there is a decent amount of work for a carpenter there? What are schools like?

[Rallyman]

So it it Newcastle where you are based now? My husband is keen on Newcastle given that he has a close friend living there. I don't know much about Newcastle. Would you say there is a decent amount of work for a carpenter there? What are schools like?

 

 

Cant comment on the schools , work wise it's been a bit up and down very much who you know up here , we live about a 50 min from Newcastle, right in the middle of wine country in Pokolbin , as I have got to know more people I am getting more private work , there is lots of new homes being built , a new town is under construction 10 km away around 7500 new homes ,shops medical centre etc, so there is work about, your husband will need to get his carpentry licence. as all the company's ask for this.

Edited August 15, 2016 by Rallyman

[Marisawright]

So it it Newcastle where you are based now? My husband is keen on Newcastle given that he has a close friend living there. I don't know much about Newcastle. Would you say there is a decent amount of work for a carpenter there? What are schools like?

 

I'll say upfront that I've never lived in Newcastle but I used to visit a fair bit for work. I also belly dance for a hobby and there's a big festival up there where I've met several women who moved up from Sydney and were glad they had. I don't know specifics about schools but one advantage, I was told, was that they could afford to live in the catchment area of a better school there, whereas in Sydney suburbs near the best schools were way out of their price range.

 

It's like any city, it has its rough areas and nice areas. It's an old steel town and when the steel closed down it went through some very bad times, high unemployment etc, but that's a long time ago now. As Rallyman says, the Hunter Valley is on the doorstep with all the wineries. To the North there's Port Stephens with its lovely bay where you can go dolphin-watching and snorkelling, some people live there and commute to Newcastle.

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g255325-d3246030-Reviews-Nobbys_Beach-Newcastle_Greater_Newcastle_New_South_Wales.html

[Flappers263]

I would say that after 18 months in Sydney you'd be able to do it on $150k - just - and it will depend upon what area you decide to rent in. If you need to commute to Bondi then don't even consider the North side of the harbour IMHO, we currently rent in West Pymble and I commute to Ultimo, I leave at 6.40 to get to work in 35 mins, if In left at 7 it would be an hour, worst case (heavy rain storms, poor drivers and driving conditions and traffic everywhere) it has taken 2 hours, when school holidays are on 20-25 minutes, BUT Sydney is great for a young family, we have a just 7 and a soon to be 5 year old and they love it here, the school we are in is great and I genuinely enjoy the drive to work as I get harbour views on the way in and cross the bridge every night on the way home...I earn less here than I did in London but overall the balance (for me / us) is better here, you will find your own way once you decide to move somewhere, you'll make expensive mistakes and you'll discover some great deals and savings also....just like anywhere in the world.

 

If you are committed and plan properly then you'll be fine, if you think its easy you'll fail, its hard, much harder than you can ever imagine at times and much more rewarding than you could ever have thought at other times. I wouldn't change it currently for anything, the Upper North Shore isn't for everyone, as Captain Roberto says its conservative and quiet on evenings (but after London maybe we enjoy it for that reason), however we can drive to the beach in 30 minutes or jump on the train to the CBD in 40 minutes....the best of both worlds.

 

In short, it doesn't come cheap, if money is the main reason you're moving then don't in my opinion. If you are willing to forego some 'luxuries' for a 'lifestyle' then perhaps its for you.

 

Good luck

Flapper

[Marisawright]

it doesn't come cheap, if money is the main reason you're moving then don't in my opinion. If you are willing to forego some 'luxuries' for a 'lifestyle' then perhaps its for you.

 

 

This sums it up in a nutshell.

 

I see so many people say they're coming to Australia for "a better life" and that usually includes a better work/life balance, being more comfortable financially, a nicer house in a nicer area, and a better lifestyle.

 

In Sydney, you'll probably work longer hours, have fewer holidays, be less well-off financially, and live in a smaller house - but the lifestyle is great if you can afford to live in the right area. It's just a question of whether that lifestyle is worth the sacrifices in those other areas. For some people it definitely is, for others it definitely isn't. No way to know which would be the case for you!

[amyt]

I would say that after 18 months in Sydney you'd be able to do it on $150k - just - and it will depend upon what area you decide to rent in. If you need to commute to Bondi then don't even consider the North side of the harbour IMHO, we currently rent in West Pymble and I commute to Ultimo, I leave at 6.40 to get to work in 35 mins, if In left at 7 it would be an hour, worst case (heavy rain storms, poor drivers and driving conditions and traffic everywhere) it has taken 2 hours, when school holidays are on 20-25 minutes, BUT Sydney is great for a young family, we have a just 7 and a soon to be 5 year old and they love it here, the school we are in is great and I genuinely enjoy the drive to work as I get harbour views on the way in and cross the bridge every night on the way home...I earn less here than I did in London but overall the balance (for me / us) is better here, you will find your own way once you decide to move somewhere, you'll make expensive mistakes and you'll discover some great deals and savings also....just like anywhere in the world.

 

If you are committed and plan properly then you'll be fine, if you think its easy you'll fail, its hard, much harder than you can ever imagine at times and much more rewarding than you could ever have thought at other times. I wouldn't change it currently for anything, the Upper North Shore isn't for everyone, as Captain Roberto says its conservative and quiet on evenings (but after London maybe we enjoy it for that reason), however we can drive to the beach in 30 minutes or jump on the train to the CBD in 40 minutes....the best of both worlds.

 

In short, it doesn't come cheap, if money is the main reason you're moving then don't in my opinion. If you are willing to forego some 'luxuries' for a 'lifestyle' then perhaps its for you.

 

Good luck

Flapper

 

thank you for your reply. It's good to read. We are definitely not doing this for the money as we earn ok here and have a house whereas we know we'd possibly not ever own a house there and will be living in a small apartment for a long time. I'd never work as a solicitor again either I doubt so would earn less. It's hard to explain why we want to go. Quality of life? The time we get together as a family is scarce and maybe we want that little time to count more? So beaches, outdoor living etc? And I know Sydney has seasons and gets cold too but when you come from Wales and it's never nice and summer weekend plans get cancelled due to poor weather all the time. We spend thousands and thousands on holidays just to have time by the sea in the sun and spend so much money trying to keep our daughter entertained over school holidays and weekends. There's very little to do where we live. We all crave an adventure. It might be hard but life is short right? I'd love my daughter to see more of the world, go to a school with international students. There are lots of reasons. Thank you again