We have just been granted our visa to come to Australia and I really loved our recent trip to Perth, especially, my windsurfing session at Lancelin.
I also got talking to a fair few of the windsurfer guys who sail near Cottesloe and it does seem like you guys have great wind stats during the summer months.
The only downside to the whole trip was just how expensive groceries are. Anyone want to comment on this and do you ever see this changing or will it just keep getting more expensive ?
Thanks
Prices are going up and will continue to do so. The recent debate on Australians buying goods online from overseas shows the mentality of the big end of town. We are sheep being lead to the slaughter.
I struggle to see how most Australians are coping with the cost of living inflation. Surely this must be some what of a hot topic with most people living in Australia.
Our visa has 4 years left before it expires, so I am just hoping that something will give. I don't think it will though as China's demand for Australian exports looks set to continue
Strong possibility that groceries esp. fruit and vegie prices will skyrocket after all the floods ,in Eastern Oz
Yes, weirdly, Australia's rise in economic fortunes over the last decade has resulted in everybody becoming poorer through a big rise in cost of living.
Real estate is so far removed from real wages that I don't know how most people afford it.
Yeah, I know, I'm getting old, so get off my lawn !!
Inflation will increase due to the floods in the food bowl and the price of fruit and veg.
This will mean that the interest rates will most likely stay still or even go down as the cost of borrowing money will have to work to offset inflation.
This being the case Australians will borrow more money in the coming months spend more, whilst real estate costs will continue to rise.
The recent devastation in Queensland will supercharge the building sector which has been limping as there is enough work there to keep the builders busy for the next 3 years.
This will mean that our economy is set to grow even more over the next 3 years with the cost of living set to rise closely in tow.
Simple. Don't come here. 2011 is going to be a big boom year.
Plenty of places where cost of living is much less...
You may find this website useful: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/
Romania looks pretty cheap.
AAAHHHHH about time!!!!
The last time I was in the UK (15 years ago ) my dollars bought bugger all of your pounds - about 2.5 dollars to get a pound.
You think living in OZ will be expensive - I thought living in the UK was expensive.
There are a lot of Poms here so it must be OK. Everyone makes do with what they have so come on over and enjoy the wind and sun - you may never want to go back 
Oz is expensive - and the best value for money.
Gotta take all criteria into account, not just cost of fruits - possibilities for sailing, surfing, bushwalks, and lazing around.
Notwithstanding the Romania suggestion above.
I emigrated here 3 years ago on a 4 year temporary visa (currently trying to turn it into a permanent visa).Its obviously a bit expensive at the moment due to the strong dollar although fuel is still cheap, property is cheaper here too.
We came here for the lifestyle, which is far more outdoor orientated than in the UK.
Our last UK summer we managed one BBQ (we lived on the south coast),here we can have a BBQ anyday of the year,only getting a few cool evenings in the winter that force me to wear a jumper.
I can windsurf (when we get wind,please) all year, only wore a shortie wetsuit twice in the winter and then you have to fall in to cool down.
We have family camping trips anytime of year.
Far fewer speed cameras here to.
Overall we came here for a better family outdoor lifestyle which i think we have acheived.
There is certainly more to emigrating than the cost of living,after all you only live once make the most of it.
BBQ any day of the week... Having to fall in to cool down, horrible Let me guess... Those nasty Aussies also made you drink cold beer...
Flanagaj,
You will find that Australians are being ripped of blind on all fronts. As far as groceries are concerned this is mainly due to a duopoly in the market. Two big conglomerates own everything and hence can control the prices they pay farmers and prices they charge consumers.
American retailer Costco has recently entered the Australian market and estimated the prices people pay are about 30% above where they should be at. In their CEOs words... "We will undercut Coles and Co by 20% and expect them to drop their prices to stay competitive. Once they do we still have a 10% buffer to stay highly profitable and a 20% buffer to still make a profit."
RE housing, OZ housing is the single most overpriced housing market in the world for what you get in my opinion. This is mainly due to the lack of housing stock available, foreign investment policies and the general lack of successive governments to address these issues. In essence the clowns in Canberra a simply asleep at the wheel.
RE you question how people afford it? I am wondering that myself. We just put our little daughter into day care and essentially the monthly cost of day care and housing chews up one entire wage. Makes you seriously considering throwing in the towel and moving to WA and at least sail every day it's windy.
Go for it Stehsegler, move across to WA. That way you can use all the gear you have left in my board rack....
AB....
CPI has been under 4% for last few years,
but i swear groceries have risen by over 100%
this is what happens when there is no consumer watchdog.
(like we have in the UK)
we also have a watchdog that measures the amount of fuel from petrol bowsers is correct!! (in UK)
.
The answer is to look for alternatives. For example buying fresh vegetables from an Asian grocery shop if there is one closeby. They are usually much cheaper than the big supermarkets.
Or growing your own vegetables and herbs. I'm doing this now and I live in a unit. Currently getting as much parsley, spring onion, chillies, dill, basel, coriander and a few others as I want. This took a bit of investment in some planter boxes and some seeds, though a few of the seeds I obtained from vegetables I bought. I quite enjoy growing the plants. If I had a house with a yard I'd rip up all the turf and lay down vegetable beds. Whats the point of grass if you don't own a cow or sheep to eat the grass?
It will be great when Costco opens up in Sydney. From there we will buy annual supplies of goods we know we need in the future that will not perish. Also it pays to shop for specials at the supermarket. A few months ago Coles had Vita Brits on special with 1kg packets costing $2.50. Normally they cost about $5. So I bought about 20 packets of them as I eat them most mornings for breakfast.
Solar power is the way to go though the rebates and subsidies are reducing. I think that will be okay as the cost of the panels will keep coming down and their efficiencies will improve.
Its clear the ACCC is quite weak when it comes to improving competition in the economy. The anti Costco and Aldi antics are clear examples of this. Too many vested interests are happy with the system that rips off the consumer.
Select to expand quote
we also have a watchdog that measures the amount of fuel from petrol bowsers is correct!! (in UK)
Aus has always had this service....its called the Dept of Weights and measures
and is very active.
Australia is the land of cartels.... Check out how both Coles and Woolies are rated as worlds top retailers......
www.smh.com.au/business/woolies-coles-in-worlds-top-25-retailers-20110119-19w3b.html
No competition and a duopoly will do that to you.....
Just don't get me started on Banks, interest rates and the rest of it :/
Haters gonna hate.
Compare Australia and U.K. (or is that GB?) here:
www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/AU/GB
And my dream of Switzerland:
www.ifitweremyhome.com/compare/AU/CH
I know, the windsurfing in Switzerland is crap, but it's close to everywhere.
There certainly is some interesting facts there Panda
40%more chance of unemployment in the UK
23% less chance in switzerland
200% more chnce of getting AIDS/HIV in switzerland
Of course Swiss banks are HONEST
and the UK is the land of milk and honey and taxation and poor healthcare and and and.....
Our taxation is a travesty our healthcare is OK our employment is not bad and judging by the number of boaties arriving this place cant be all that bad.
