Whenever people ask me whether I’d consider going to live in Australia with my parents and siblings, I answer “yes” instantly, and then go on to list all of the things I love about Australia; the outdoor lifestyle, better quality of life, better weather and better earning potential. 99% of the time I get the same response, “yes, but the cost of living is so much higher!” I have visited my family 12 times over the years and can honestly say I don’t think there is any difference at all in the cost of living. So to prove a point I thought I would look at things a little closer and compare some everyday essentials.
For ease I will translate all prices into GBP.
Loaf of Bread
Australia – £1.76
UK – £1.05
Result – UK is cheaper
1 Litre of Petrol
Australia – £0.72
UK – £1.23
Result – Australia is a lot cheaper! (Plus they have cheap days where it’s reduced even further!)
1 Litre of Milk
Australia – £1.00
UK – £1.05
Result – Australia is marginally cheaper
Supermarket brand 4 pack of Toilet Roll
Australia – £1.91
UK – £1.65
Result – UK is cheaper
So if we compare the added earning potential in Australia and the very marginal differences in price on everyday items, which swing both ways, there really isn’t a lot in it.
I have noticed that fruit and veg is considerably more expensive in Australia, this being due to the fact that they only buy locally. For example Woolworths source 100% of their fresh meat products from within Australia, along with 96% of the fruit and veg.
Alcohol doesn’t differ greatly either, a case of lager is roughly the same price as in the UK, however be prepared to spend a little more if you prefer an ale. If you’re into bubbles like me, you’ll be pleased to hear that prosecco is very cheap over there! I bought 6 bottles on special for £15 which is far cheaper than I’ve ever found it in the UK.
House prices differ too much from area to area in Australia to really make a fair comparison. In the UK you can expect to pay a lot more money for the same house you own in a little village, in a big city and the closer you get to London the higher the prices go. This is much the same in Australia and obviously you get the added perks of swimming pools and ocean views in Australia.
So overall, after doing a little research, and going on what I already know from my past visits to Australia, my argument still stands! Earning potential in Australia is undoubtedly greater and there is not a big enough difference in the cost of living to impact the benefits of earning more money.
With earning potential being far greater in Australia, in comparison against the UK, you may find yourself questioning whether it’s worth relocating to! If this was a big sway towards your decision in moving to Australia then your next steps will be to consider what legal regulations are in place.
If you’re looking to set off your next venture to Australia, then our international removals services are here to help you out! We also have import services for those looking to shift their belongings from the UK. Whether you’re looking to import from the UK, or into the UK, our import services to UK are here to assist.
For more information around our import services from the UK to Australia, get in touch with the John Mason International removals team here.
About the Author: 16 years ago my parents and siblings immigrated to Australia. I have visited 12 times over the years and contemplated making the move myself many a time, including taking a 12 month working holiday visa. Now married and with a son of my own my roots are firmly planted in the UK but we take it in turns as a family to hop across the pond to visit each other.
