COST OF LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
Doing a cost of living comparison, and calculating the level of income you will need to maintain your standard of living in Australia can be difficult from a distance. There will of course be a few unknowns. Here you will find some useful links and guidelines to help with the calculations. You may find it helpful to visit the Shopping Page, which has links to Australia’s retail outlets. Remember, the figures quoted here are intended as a rough guide only.
MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS
Currently the base interest rate in Australia is at 4.5% with mortgage rates at 7.4%. These can vary depending on the lender. This means that repayments on an average 25 year $300,000 mortgage are $2,200 monthly.
For more information on mortgages and for links to qualified advisors see the Banking Page.
HOUSEHOLD BILLS
Bills vary according to the size of your home and family and will include:
Council and Water Rates: Variable depending on where you live and the size of your home for an average family budget for $400-$500 a quarter. Some states have water restrictions in place and water usage is strictly monitored. Charges can increase according to water usage.
Electricity: Cooling your home and running air conditioning units in summer means bills vary seasonally and from state to state and average bill would be $250-$300 a quarter.
Gas: Gas is mainly used for cooking and water heating and averages at $250 per quarter.
Phone: An average landline bill might be $70-$80 a month. It is possible to buy International Phone Cards from newsagents which reduce the cost of international calls to a few cents a minute.
Mobile Phone: Plans are available from $30 per month.
Internet: Varies on the type of service you choose, unlimited broadband averages at $70 per month.
House Insurance: Varies according to the value of the property and contents allow $70-$100 per month.
Termite Inspection/Treatment: Termite inspections are usually carried out annually and you can take advice about having chemical treatment sprayed $170 a year.
GROCERY BILLS
There is no national pricing policy from the two major supermarket chains in Australia. In our experience, grocery prices vary from state to state and even from suburb to suburb. Grocery prices in Perth seem to be higher than in the eastern states, this is often attributed to the cost of haulage. A typical weekly shop might cost between, $250-$300.
For a guide to supermarkets and online grocery shopping (mainly eastern states) visit the Shopping Page.
BUYING A CAR
Visit the Driving Page for links to Australian online car dealerships where you will find all the information you need.
PETROL PRICES
Petrol prices in Australia have fluctuated in recent months hitting record highs and dropping back again. In some cities the car is the main mode of transport so fuel prices are a consideration. Prices also vary from state to state, with regional areas experiencing higher prices. New migrants usually find the petrol prices in Australia very reasonable. Currently the price for unleaded fuel is just over $1 per litre.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The cost of public transport varies from state to state. One of the great things about Australian public transport is that in most cities free public transport operates in the city centre. There are concession fares for students (they can travel for 50cents a journey) and seniors. Free travel for seniors during non-peak hours operates in some states. It is often cheaper to buy a travel card with journey credits on it than paying cash. An average journey price might be $4 to $6.
CLOTHES SHOPPING
The choice of fashion retailers in Australia is not as diverse as in the UK and Europe. There are large chain stores which offer reasonably priced clothing and others that sell branded beach wear and designer brands. For more information on clothing retailers visit our Shopping Page.
BUYING BOOKS
The cost of buying books in Australia gets a special mention because the price difference is marked. This was something we hadn’t heard about before we migrated. It is possible to buy books more cheaply in the larger chain stores, but titles are limited. There are no 3 for 2 offers and I haven’t found anything comparable to the mail order children’s book clubs in the UK. A child’s picture book can cost anything from $15 to $20. For more information on book retailers in Australia visit the Shopping Page. It is possible to exchange and buy books second hand in selected independently run book stores.
