I'm thinking about moving to Australia (from US)?

Question

So, if you live in Australia, could you tell me as much as you possibly can about living there? What is the cost of living, how are the people, do you like it there, what's the political climate? Also, just any interesting things you can think of about Australia.

Thanks!

And if you have lived in the US (or have visited) how do the two countries compare?

Answer 1

Australia is very multi cultural country so there is heaps of great restaurants and options of different cuisines  :)

Theres always bush tukka too but cant say i have ever eaten a worm/grub eww

Some people think Aus is a vast dessert where everyone owns a pet koala or kangaroo

they are right about the dessert part hah

I recommend visiting everywhere

Especially the top of Australia

Cairns is amazingly beautiful and you can snorkle the coral reef

Cost of living depends where you want to be

In South Australia renting in the city is around $300 a week for a small apartment (just an estimate it goes up and down)

More out in the suburbs is around $180-$280 again depending on how nice the place is and the size

A big mac meal is around 5-6 dollars

I havent had one for a long time so cant remember

Milk $1.50ish a litre

As in any country you have nice people and rude people

Most aussies are friendly cant speak for everyone

I love it here only downside is when we get no rain and its 42 degrees celcius : /

Thats in SA anyway

Interesting things..

It snows in victoria on the mountains

our weather goes up and down a lot

the other morning i had ice on my car windscreen but your average winter is about 12-14 celcius and sumer 26-40 celcius

40 is extreme most summer days are great

I havent been to US but after watching those michael moore docos the gun problem seems really horrible :( i mean buying bullets in Kmart???

Plus our health system is pretty alright we pay taxes though

You will need to get a visa i think you can get a 2 year working visa and work for 12 months of that time

hope some of this helps anyway :)

Answer 2

I've spent a lot of time in many places in the US and largely agree with fruitsal's comments except about politics.

Our Labor party (in power now after 11 years in opposition) is very similar to your Democrats and the Liberal/National coalition (current opposition) is a Republican clone. Our federal government budgets produce large surpluses year after year and there is little or no government debt, though that depends to an extent on who's telling the story.

Our people are friendly and welcoming; you'll never come across a gun; our society is multicultural; the food is great; our economy is booming; there are plenty of jobs; salaries are high; our climate/weather is the best in the world; our water and air are clean; our beaches are amazing and our scenery is beautiful. Taxes are high, but so are benefits. We have universal health care, free primary and secondary education and heavily subsidised tertiary education, subsidised child care and excellent social security (though age pensioners are not very well off).

Overall, Australia is a better country to live in than the US, particularly if you have kids.

Of course, all of the above is academic if you can't get a visa to come here and work. Work visas are restricted to people in occupations in which workers are in short supply in Australia. Your occupation must be on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL); your skills and qualifications must be able to be recognised here and you will also need to pass a points test and meet health and character requirements.

Check out our immigration website http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/index.htm and the following specific pages for all information.

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121... (list of required occupations)

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-s... (occupations most in demand)

http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/a-z.htm#a (skills recognition) http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-s... (the points test)

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/characte... (character)

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/health-r... (health)

Answer 3

geez, has fruitsalad actually gone out of her suburb let alone the country??? she hasn't got a clue about the US let alone the liberal party

Answer 4

I vote for fruitsalad too, except her interpretation of our politics (the so-called Liberals are actually right-wing), also I echo the great information Ozmaniac has given - although you do find guns out in the country where I live, but only in the hands of farmers who need them!

I'm originally British, lived in Chicago for a while and have holidayed in Ohio, Florida and California, and now live in Australia, so I can compare the two countries in a neutral way. There is no way I would ever live permanently in the US again. What follows is a generalisation, so any Americans reading this, don't take it personally please - there are always exceptions! America these days is just too uptight, too insular, too political, too right-wing, too "religious" but in a judgmental, not a forgiving way; too obsessed with money and material possessions, too biased towards the "haves" and a couldn't-care-less attitude to the "have-nots".

Australians (again, there are exceptions!) are generally friendly, open, relaxed, tolerant of others' views, welcoming to outsiders, more than willing to assist someone in need, all-round NICE. People really do meet your eye in the street and say a cheerful "G'day" - and, get this, even *teenagers* are friendly!!! The beaches and countryside out where I live are like a picture-postcard, the air is clean, the living space plentiful (sooo different from London, where I come from!). I love this place so much and would never live in another country (unless a millionaire sweeps me off to the Bahamas on his yacht, maybe :D )

Edit: Hey Faith, that's what you get if you live in Melbourne ;)

Answer 5

don't move here. It will just increase our obesity rate

Answer 6

well i have never travelled overseas anywhere so i cant compare for you, but i can tell you about OZ!

We are a very relaxed country, very friendly place to live.

Depending on the city you want to move to depends on the cost of living- the main difference being housing, both to buy and rent- it will be more expensive in Sydney and Melbourne compared to other cities. Perth is small city, very clean and beachy, Melb is th cosmopolitan city, with the best restaurants, dining, 24hr nightlife, great place to live but generally cold and raining most of the time. Sydney cant tell you much, Brisbane is where I am living now. We have great weather, the roads and transport system are not as good here in Bne compared to other cities but its a great holiday/living place.

Basic rent prices, (depending on location) range about $250-$500 for 2-4 bedroom house, electricity you can usually get away with $80/month ave use for 2 people. If you buy/rent a house/unit you pay for water in brisbane- except if the units dont have seperate meters like mine, so i cant tell you for water usage. We currently have in Brisbane a limit on water use of 170 litres per day per person, if you use over this you have to pay the extra difference. Plus you get half an hour per week to hose outside the garden or car.

Generally people over here are very friendly, as long as you dont make fun of us lol and let us have a friendly joke then all shld be good :).

Our hospital system is a good one although the lack of staff and beds available have been of concern for a long time.

Answer 7

I haven't been to the US but my friend moved here [Melbourne] from New York last year. He loves it here but he complains that there's nothing to do at night because everything is closed. Also he's a little perturbed by the weather- freezing cold in winter, burning hot in summer and four seasons in one day during spring and fall.

Our citizens and permanent residents get free health care except dental.

Answer 8

australia is as big as the us, and has as many different aspects.

i have visited florida, which has a similar climate to northern new south wales or southern queensland.

the political climate has swung back to the centre.

there are plenty of interesting things about australia. get yourself a lonely planet travel guide to australia.

the two countries are very similar but quite different. in australia you can get free healthcare, and the minimum wage is comparatively a lot higher than in the us.

oh, and in australia we generally use english english, not us english, although us english is understood and accepted. confused? we spell centre or center, and labour or labor. oh, and we also use the international date standard of DD/MM/YY, and not MM/DD/YY. and we use the metric system for measurements although the imperial (as we call it) system is generally understood, recognised, and used to some extent

Answer 9

fruit salad..,.fruit loop,,,

20 years ago Aussie was a great place to live and party,

since then the dopey polis decided to Americanise the place.

apart from the people being a d**n nice bunch,,,i don't see too much of a general difference

Answer 10

its a great move i did it

Answer 11

Australia compared to the old USA no comparison Australia is best in all way's.We have real laws. We don't have a gun in the toilet,under bed,in the lounge,in the kitchen.I would never move to USA.No way!!!!!  This country is the best.Political climate is nothing in comparison to USA . As it goes on and on and on and on for bloody months.People are the best,Cost's are rising due to USA influences.We are just beaut and WE have real FOOTY here not (lol Gridiron) Good luck in Your ventures where ever You may end up!!!

Answer 12

Basic summary of differences with the US (the way I see it):

Australia much safer - no guns, less crime

More laid back and relaxed although we still work hard at our jobs

Much less religious, religion is generally kept out of political and public life, it is not polite to broadcast your religion excessively

More ethnically diverse. People here are from everywhere, we don't have the division into black/white like you have in the US

Less extreme poverty and extreme wealth, Australians are by and large all middle class. Minimum pay rates are about $14/hr. Aussies take 4 weeks paid annual leave per year.

No tipping

Health care is provided free or inexpensively, as is quality education.

Politics a little more left wing, our Liberal Party is somewhat similar to the Democrats, and our Labour Party is further left with trade union support. Voting is compulsory and the election process is much quicker, simpler and cheaper.

Cars and housing are dearer in Australia, but we tend to have better incomes and free health care etc so it kind of evens out. Food prices are similar.

EDIT: Our Liberal Party is our right wing party, but it is nowhere near as right wing as the Republicans, and our Labour Party is quite a bit further left than the Democrats. Hence the reason for the comparison between the Liberal Party and the Democrats. American politics is very right wing by the standards of other western countires.

Answer 13

Your first concern wil be getting a visa to reside and work in Australia...very difficult.  You can learn visa requirements at the site below.

Answer 14

no more americans please.

Answer 15

To be honest, Australia is one of the highest paying tax countries in the world; however, it has probably the best quality of life in the world.

My mother's husband is American from Pennsylvania and agrees about the quality of life aspect though there is a lot about the U.S.A he misses which will be the case for you too no doubt.

Pay and conditions are better in Australia but there is a water shortage in most of the country and strict water restrictions apply.

There is only one way to see if you love a big beautiful country. Come visit and try for yourself.

If I had big dreams of becoming rich and famous I would move to the US, but since I don't, staying in Australia is the only way for me.