Lifestyle. NZ v OZ.

[Big Dave]

Living in Oz is cheaper than NZ ??

[SPman]

Housing prices in Perth are about the same as in Auckland. Houses and rentals are in short supply. Better income,(generally). Prices of some things are higher (alcohol). Cost of living generally a bit higher, overall.
Temp was 40C yesterday and it's not even summer yet - Spring seemed to finish last week - at least it's not too humid!
Seen 2 snakes in 18 mths, both on the road - a Dugite (deceased) and a Black Tiger snake. Walking outside in the paddocks, etc, just thump around and they'll generally get out of the way - also be careful of creeks, ponds, etc - the snakes like to hang around water. And it pays to be a bit cautious fossicking in piles of timber etc.
Big black hairy spiders are scarier than Redbacks - just got to be careful sometimes - you soon get to know where the Redbacks hang out. Funnelwebs are more a problem around Sydney and northern NSW - nasty bits of work - seen an enraged female jump a metre at a guy poking it with a stick......
Better bike roads out East. Be careful of the Traffic Police. Much lower speed tolerance - 3k over in Victoria and about 5k over elsewhere and they've just upped all the fines again. Double demerits on all public holidays, as well, although if you keep off the main highways, it's not too bad. Radar detectors only legal in WA.

[Big Dave]

Housing prices in Perth are about the same as in Auckland.

And it's comparatively one of the cheapest cities - is it not still?

[davereid]

My Dad lives in QLD, (Gold Coast), so we go over regularly. Wages are pretty good, and the climate is warmer, although its not really that great. They get very wet and windy seasons same as us but without the cold. But far too hot to use a bike in summer, you really need that air con. And QLD is boring. Seen one great beach.. well they are everywhere. And don't ask about the mangroves. But if beaches are all I want, there are plenty in NZ, except the season here is short. But over here, I really live in Tuscany, Switzerland, and France. It's just I only get a few months of each. Even on a frosty winter morning, I enjoy my commute into Levin. The wind is cold, but the mountains remind me that I live in a unique place, a subtropical, but alpine island. My only gripe is that incomes are lower, and don't need to be. But I won't allow poor government to destroy the rest of the value I see in this little country, I am sure we will prosper in spite of the best efforts of our leaders.

[Drunken Monkey]

lol, like the size of the houses. And in Melbourne they hardly have back yards etc, but I think that might just be Melbourne cause it has so many people etc

Mmm, we had a pool when we lived in Melbs. You can hardly fit that in your backyard if it's not big. Most of our neighbours did too. Small lots would probably be true if you lived close to the city, say Toorak or Carlton, but then that would be like living in Parnell or Eden Terrace. You hardly find big lots there either.

[Big Dave]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...s_rid=smh:top5

[Cr1MiNaL]

spiders, bugs, no riding roads.... meh I say.... If u like sunshine lots n lots of it, more people, and the $$ auz is the place to be.... still small but more people and more to do.... much much more.... only a matter of time for me. Good Luck.

[Mole_C]

I went there last month to check out if i wanted to live there. Decided i like NZ a lot more. I can't stand the heat and don't like big cities so not really my thing. I wouldn't get paid any more there either so no incentive for me.

It has its perks and drawbacks.

Water is a bitch everywhere and the roads around Melbourne were boring as hell. All the bikes had massive chicken strips. Also the flies fucked me off and it wasn't even fly season. Waiting for a huge que at a boat ramp and all the nature being man made didn't take my fancy either.

So yea, depends what u like in life.

[slowpoke]

I was told that building a house over here is like 4 times what it costs over in Aussie due to all the regulations etc

Rubbish, the cost to build a house in NZ seems cheaper than Oz. Previous posts about hourly rates explain why. Not to mention nearly everything is double brick and tile. Timber is very expensive (comparatively).

And it's comparatively one of the cheapest cities - is it not still?

Nope, Perth is the most expensive city in the country for property these days.

Average property prices at September '07:
Perth $560k
Sydney $506k
Brisbane $411k
Melbourne $402k
Adelaide $360k

Don't forget to add on stamp duty. To buy the average house ($560k) in Perth you have to add on stamp duty and sundry fees totalling nearly $25k. Now do the conversion to NZ dollars......

I kind of laugh at people saying "there are so many opportunities for entrepeneurs in Oz" when they've gone over there with the intention of looking for opportunities....the same attitude in NZ would yield a similar number of openings.

Health care is pretty bloody ordinary, with a marked lack of services in regional areas, and main centres are a lot further away than in NZ.

Education is as screwed up as NZ with private schooling being the norm if you can afford it....and the fees would make your eyes water.

No ACC, so if you hurt yourself and you are a contractor good luck to you pal. So income protection and health insurance are virtual necessities, depending on your age that's not cheap either.

The East coast has better roads for bikes but has more traffic and more cops, the West coast has less cops, frikkin' pea gravel (like natural ball bearings), less traffic and virtually no decent roads that last longer than a few minutes (miles/corner rather than corners/mile).

Are you into track days? If you are, choose your location carefully, it's a long drive from Rockhampton down to Queensland raceway and it's not much fun when you get there.

On the whole the labour market is pretty tight thanks to the resource boom. It's good for wages in the short term but George Dubya's finger puppet John Howard has put in some industrial "reforms" that are going to be savage when the labour market cools off...might be different if labour win the election.

There is no better or worse, just different, depending on what your priorities are. For myself living in beautiful Martinborough, just over an hour from a main centre, on a few acres, I know I could never afford this sort of property in Oz...and the vibrant wee village would be a tacky tourist trap that was overrun by backpackers and tourists 24/7 rather than just getting "a bit busy" on weekends.

When some family health matters are resolved here we'll probably head back (I still work there) but it will only be for the convenience to work certainly not the lifestyle.

What do you want from life?

[MaxB]

There is no better or worse, just different, depending on what your priorities are. For myself living in beautiful Martinborough, just over an hour from a main centre, on a few acres, I know I could never afford this sort of property in Oz...and the vibrant wee village would be a tacky tourist trap that was overrun by backpackers and tourists 24/7 rather than just getting "a bit busy" on weekends.

From some of my 40+ rellies that live in Oz they say much the same thing. Not better or worse - just different.

Might I suggest anyone thinking of going over to live first go on a mini break to suss out areas, jobs, schools etc. before making the big move.

[fredie]

what about the kangaroos

[BIGBOSSMAN]

Or these...

[janno]

The cane toads at our place in Brissie reduced in number by two thirds over the three years I was there - yaaaayyy!

Because of the extreme drought - boooooo . . .

Oh, and in Queensland don't forget that the mosquitos carry Ross River Virus. That makes glandular fever look like noddy's picnic, and I met quite a few people who had contracted it. They are expecting Dengue fever to show up within the next decade or so as the climate warms and the mossies are able to expand their habitat.

Give me cold and rain any day - just put on the appropriate clothes and there you are!

[degrom]

Im packing up and moving my family over to sunny OZ next year.

I have been checking out the comparison between house prices and im stunned at what you can buy over there for the same price and less than what I paid for my house over here. (in Auckland though)
The mortgage interest rates are lower over there too, and you seem to get paid more money for working.

It seems a bit of a no brainer or am I being naive?

I will be looking to move to Queensland between Cairns and Brisbane somewhere on the coast.

I have never been there and am looking for input from anyone who has made the move in the past or has been to that part of the country.

Are there any places to stay away from etc, and for what reason.

Why bother moving to Australia,why not go to the US or Europe?

I am a software developer and doing small engineering work as a hobby. Finding parts for my hobbies is like asking for 2 months of no wind in Wellington. Australia is a bit better but sill hard to get stuff.

At least with Australia you have a choice of a few cities if you are in the IT industry.

[The Pastor]

To the person who said "get over it" I will not get over motorcycling thank you.



(im infracted till the end of the year, so i cant tell who gave me the rep)