Talk to me about Australia...

wizardPC · 01-16-2007, 07:42 PM

I few months ago I asked you guys about whether or not I should try to get a position in London (my company has offices there), and the overwhelming response was....DO IT!!!

Well, the company won't send me over there, but I just got a feeler from a customer of ours in Australia. I dont have any details, because I couldnt talk about it while at work, but I'd be working for a very large company basically doing the job I do now. I'd be based somewhere in NSW, probably Sydney, but travel a lot.

So what's the cost of living like in Sydney? Would I be doing okay if I made $90,000AU? How much would rent be on a 2 bedroom apartment in a nice neighborhood?

These are things I'd like to know so I dont get screwed. I had a friend from Bulgaria who thought he was going to be doing allright making $40,000US in New York City, only to find out later that $40,000 is almost poverty level there.

Pistolen08 · 01-16-2007, 08:00 PM

I've always wanted to go to austrailia/new zealand. Sydney is in the top 20 for most expensive cities to live in, but 90k AUD should suffice. What company do you work for? I would be all over that deal if I had the chance.

-Elliot

auto_dave · 01-16-2007, 08:49 PM

I have been lurking and sucking info. from this forum for years. It is amazing how much people here know, find out, and contribute to all us oxygen thieves.

I know that I am biased, by being an Aussie, but if anybody gets the opportunity to come to or work in Australia, DO IT!

I live in Brisbane, a state capital, but I have lived in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. I have visited the U.S. on a number of occasions in the mid 90's
and noticed that once you get out of the really big centres, it is very much like Australia.

Sydney isn't really my own cup of tea, but it is a fantastic city with so much to see and do. I would equate it with some of your smaller cities like San Diego etc. Like any large city it can be violent, but if you don't look for trouble, you probably will never find it.

Now, AUS $ 90,000 is a very reasonable salary by our standards, and if you don't have millionaire tastes you will live comfortably on that amount. Rents for apartments are like everywhere, if you want to live close to the CBD, you pay the money. If you budget say $ 2,000 per month,($1400 in Brisbane) you will get a modern, clean apartment or house not too far "out of the city".

If your future job involves travel, you will have a great time, and see this vast barren country of ours for the right price.(the boss is going to pay!!!)

I wish you the best of luck, and if you do make it down here and are in Brisbane,get in touch and I'll shout you a beer.

meddler · 01-16-2007, 09:43 PM

hey wizzard,

I live in Sydney. What auto dave was saying is pretty much on the money. Sydney is a great place. Great places to eat and a great place to have a good time. $90k is a good salary. Depending on how close you want to live to the city and / or which particular neigbourhood you wish to live in will determine what rent you pay. $2000-$3000 per month for a 2 bedroom apartment is about right.

If you want more info on Sydney just send me a pm and I can tell you a lot more.

My advice..... DO IT.

oh, and BTW if you don't take the job, I have some friends that would!

wizardPC · 01-16-2007, 10:58 PM

I want to live in a neighborhood where I won't get mugged/shot at/killed. That's pretty much the criteria.

Quattro · 01-17-2007, 12:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by wizardPC

I had a friend from Bulgaria who thought he was going to be doing allright making $40,000US in New York City, only to find out later that $40,000 is almost poverty level there.

That made me laugh.

Rafster · 01-17-2007, 12:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Quattro

That made me laugh.

Is it true?

Rafster

Quattro · 01-17-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rafster

Is it true?

Rafster

Unfortunately, Yes.

0l33l · 01-18-2007, 02:07 AM

Plusses of living in Australia: import of Japanese cars

meddler · 01-18-2007, 05:42 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by 0l33l

Plusses of living in Australia: import of Japanese cars

Unfortunaly it is only to a point. they have import laws that allow only small amounts of Jap imports.

@ Wizzard. Most neighbourhoods are quite safe. Like all big cities, there are certain places you try to steer clear of at night, but on the whole, Sydney is quite a safe city. If you are working in the city, you might want to live close. Once you get further away, the public transport is not as good.

wizardPC · 01-18-2007, 06:52 PM

Bah! I'm an American! I don't use public transport!

Rafster · 01-18-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by wizardPC

Bah! I'm an American! I don't use public transport!

Quattro · 01-19-2007, 12:24 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by wizardPC

Bah! I'm an American! I don't use public transport!

correction, small town Americans don't use public transportation.

jjh221 · 01-19-2007, 03:19 AM

didnt someone say once the ratio of men to women is greater towards women?

bgoodman · 01-19-2007, 04:12 AM

Austrailia is certainly on my visit list, but I'm not sure I'd want to live there.

You could do like Gutter (old forum member) did and move over to Italy.