Cost of bills in Australia? 2 Person home? Pease help?

Question

Me and my friend are thinking about moving out.

We have most costs calculated but were still wondering about a few..

We are reasonably "green" but will have the a/c and heat on in summer/winter.

So for:

Water, Home telephone [we won't really be calling anyone though] & Insurance! How much is insurance for 2 cars and the house and some belongings?

Thanks

Oh and we had the cost of Gas at about $250-300 on average a month? It may be only $150 in summer, but $350 in winter, so thats on average? Would that be right?

&We thought electricity would be about $300-350 a month? We have lights, tv, 2 laptops. but duh we turn them off like during the day when we are at work. Again, is that about right?

Thanks heaps x

Answer 1

$250-$300 per month on gas???  Are you personally adding to the greenhouse effect?  Ye Gods!  What are you planning on running?  You're own gas-powered electricity generator?  Sheesh!  You're "green"?!?!  If my combined electricity and gas bills were $600 A MONTH... I'd have to be personally powering every tram in the city!

Okay... now that I'm over my shock at your calculations - you don't mention whereabouts in Australia.  So these prices are Victorian, and could be radically different to someone living in Sydney or Perth.

1.  I rent.  So I don't pay water or household insurance as it is covered in my rent.  So these figures could be a little skewed.  Otherwise, my utilities (electricity and gas) average out to AU$56 per month.  Given there are two of you, I'd guesstimate that your electricty and gas would be around AU$70-80 per month.  This is based on only turning the heater on when it's icy, and not trying to drain the dams when I take a shower.

$600 in utilities a month?!?!  I'm still in shock!  Do you plan on leaving EVERY light on in the place?

Focus girl... cost of bills in Australia.

2.  Petrol is around the AU$1.45 per litre mark.  I drive a 2-litre car, and my monthly petrol bill averages around AU$40.  So I'd add "transportation" into my calculations at around AU$45 each per week.  This is working on the principle that you would only be travelling approximately 20-kilometres per week (ie only within the surrounding suburbs); and includes registration, insurance, and regular services.

3.  I live inner City.  Rental here tends to be (roughly speaking) around AU$200 to AU$350 per bedroom - as a general rule of thumb - per week.  So if you were to find a suitable 2-bedroom apartment or house, you'd be looking at around AU$1,200-mark in rent per month - give or take.  Obviously, the further out from the City centre you are, the cheaper the accommodation is.  But then you need to increase your petrol budget.

Finally... telephone.  Obviously (with laptops) we are talking broadband connection as well.  I'm with Telstra, so everything's packaged together (ie mobile, landline and broadband).  But depending on the package you get, I'd suggest you also budget AU$90 per month for "the phone bill".

I don't have cable... but I understand that's around the AU$125+ mark per month for the top (all you can watch) cable package.

Hope that helps.

$600 per month on utilities?!?!?

YIKES!

Can't get over that.

Consider themself "green".

<shakes head>... wandering off to find another question to answer.

Answer 2

hi

well my phone and internet bill is 120 per month (telstra)

my insurance(contents or Rental) is 34 per month i would recomend iether QBE or RAC or Westpac these are my top 3

if you are renting but you wont need home insurance (i dont have it)

my water is like 100 per month but i have a stingy water thing so i only get 5 min showers

my car insurance on a 20 grand car is 1000 per year, so thats like 90 per month (this is pretty average)

and my gas is around 220 per month with a heater

and electicity ranges between 120 and 300 per month (its like 51 days or something) and i have an airconditioner on the wall 2 laptops and a cpmputer

and gas is like 100 per months or something (natural) but if you have gas bottles its less (my parents have natural gas)

like the big gas bottle lasts like over a month for me and i live with 3 people they cost around 80-120 depending on where you live)

and food well for 2 people you should only be spending between 120 - 150 a  week between you sometimes it mite be less

hope this helps!