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Cost of Living in Melbourne
Summary about cost of living in Melbourne:
- Four-person family monthly costs: 3,198.10$ (4,324.48A$) without rent (using our estimator).
- A single person monthly costs: 899.68$ (1,216.55A$) without rent.
- Cost of living rank 99th out of 540 cities in the world.
- Melbourne has a cost of living index of 73.88.
| Restaurants | [ Edit ] | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 16.00 A$ | |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 80.00 A$ | |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 10.00 A$ | |
| Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) | 8.00 A$ | |
| Imported Beer (11.2 oz small bottle) | 9.00 A$ | |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 4.06 A$ | |
| Coke/Pepsi (11.2 oz small bottle) | 3.05 A$ | |
| Water (11.2 oz small bottle) | 2.61 A$ | |
| Markets | [ Edit ] | |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | 4.78 A$ | |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) | 2.37 A$ | |
| Rice (white), (1 lb) | 1.25 A$ | |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | 4.16 A$ | |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 4.33 A$ | |
| Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1 lb) | 4.63 A$ | |
| Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 6.24 A$ | |
| Apples (1 lb) | 1.78 A$ | |
| Banana (1 lb) | 1.28 A$ | |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 1.33 A$ | |
| Tomato (1 lb) | 2.25 A$ | |
| Potato (1 lb) | 1.42 A$ | |
| Onion (1 lb) | 1.10 A$ | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 2.53 A$ | |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 1.93 A$ | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 15.00 A$ | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 3.97 A$ | |
| Imported Beer (11.2 oz small bottle) | 5.62 A$ | |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | 29.00 A$ | |
| Transportation | [ Edit ] | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 4.21 A$ | |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 145.52 A$ | |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 4.35 A$ | |
| Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) | 2.61 A$ | |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 34.20 A$ | |
| Gasoline (1 gallon) | 5.28 A$ | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 25,000.00 A$ | |
| Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 23,173.52 A$ | |
| Utilities (Monthly) | [ Edit ] | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment | 208.57 A$ | |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | 0.17 A$ | |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 72.13 A$ | |
| Sports And Leisure | [ Edit ] | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 63.22 A$ | |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 23.69 A$ | |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 20.00 A$ | |
| Childcare | [ Edit ] | |
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | 1,607.90 A$ | |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | 20,589.29 A$ | |
| Clothing And Shoes | [ Edit ] | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 99.51 A$ | |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) | 61.98 A$ | |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 131.93 A$ | |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 151.44 A$ | |
| Rent Per Month | [ Edit ] | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 1,745.43 A$ | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 1,343.76 A$ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 3,303.78 A$ | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 2,074.46 A$ | |
| Buy Apartment Price | [ Edit ] | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 807.94 A$ | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 634.65 A$ | |
| Salaries And Financing | [ Edit ] | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 4,483.08 A$ | |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 4.50 |
Prices in Melbourne
These data are based on 3394 entries in the past 18 months from 429 different contributors.
Last update: June 2018
Last update: June 2018
Sources and References:
100 Comments so far
Also, I have no idea how you came to those numbers for rent/buy. If you're going by average, that is a bad way to calculate a useful number for people because the extremely expensive and opulent apartments will throw off the number by a large margin. You can rent in the city for around $500 per room, per week easily and they will be very modern and spacious apartments. Rent outside the city is more like $300 per room per week for very large private houses with a pool. Some people rent decent houses for less than $100 per week.
I am from Chile and i wonder, how is the IT work in Australia? i am working at technical support and i am thinking in moving to live and work in Australia.
My husband and I currently planning to move to Melbourne. Our jobs in Iran are auditing and I do photography in a professional level too. We both worry about finding jobs in Melbourne. Is it hard to find auditing jobs for my husband who is ACCA member with 8 years experience? and photography job for me??
Please advise if you can....
Thanks a lot!
Thank You.
I want to know what monthly salary is enough to live a normal life in Melbourne?
I find Australia more expensive for most things compared with the UK, especially food which would say is about 50% more expensive than the supermarkets in the UK. Eating out is particularly expensive in Melbourne, there are very few mid price restaurants where you can eat for $40 per head. Mains are typically $25-35, entre typically $15-20 and similar for deserts. A decent bottle of wine will set back at least $50 on top. I can eat much cheaper in London and food quality is good.
Don't believe me just do the checks yourself on line. Compare you local shop in Waitrose/Tesco/Aldi etc with Coles and you'll see what I mean
Hi there!
As a Melbournian myself I think that it really depends on how often you get that money, if its yearly probably not, monthly yes and daily for sure! But it also depends on where you live too, some places tend to cost more and leisure is often expensive, but if I were to recommend a place to eat I would say FODDIES it's healthy, good meals and for an amazingly cheap price.
Good Luck John!
I'm currently planning to move to Melbourne with my wife and 2 sons.Im a qualified Chef and my wife Accountant.Will 12k after taxes enough to comfortably live in Melbourne?Please advise.....
Thanking you in advance.
Awaiting your reply/feedback please.
I got a job offer with a Big 4 Consulting firm in Melbourne. We are a couple (27m,25f) and we were planning to move over to Melbourne this November. Is 10000AUD or 6600AUD (after tax and superannuation deduction) per month good enough to spend life in Melbourne? What would be the expenses in terms of 1 BHK apartment, utilities (gas/electric/water/garbage/internet), health insurance, fooding? Most importantly, do I need to renegotiate or go ahead with the current situation.
Thank you!
We are planning to move to Melbourne, Australia in PR status this coming Sept 2017 with my husband and 5 year old son without jobs prepared. I am wondering about the cost of living, schooling and how long will it take getting a job. We are both Mechanical Engineer in profession. Thank you..
pls guide us we can easily get jobs or not and what r the rough monthly expense after reaching there.
Good luck!
I am from Ireland and hoping to move to Melbourne in April. I am just wondering about the cost of living and if I was to rent a room in a house approx how much would it be ?
#Mario on Nov 16, 2016 :
I am from West Africa and i will be relocating with my wife and two kids to Sydney Australia,
A: You've come to the Melbourne page Mario..
A: I wish to further my education to enable get a good paying job,
Don't we all !!
even though i got no school admission yet, my wife will definitely want to get a job,
A: Yes everyone wants a job if they want money !!
i have no idea of cost of accommodation and cost of living.
A: Well, you've come to the right place..
I seek an advise on how to go about this whole thing.. Thanks.
A: Just ask specific questions here (or on the Sydney page) and let your fingers do the walking
and type in google.com and forage about in the search engine for answers.. use the Aust gov sites as well..
Just heard a great Christmas song
"Santa Baby" by Disco Pirates
it's a very catchy song and great remix
1. I am 23years old want to move to Footscray area
Can i have a job as a waitress there?
A: I can't see why not.. good chance working in a casual fast food or
cheap restaurant in the area..
2. What is the requirements?
A: Preparedness to work for cash: I imagine a lot of these small independent outfits will prefer to pay cash (under the counter as so to speak..) so you might make $15~$20 an hour
3. Can i work there for 6 months?
A: If you're coming here on a tourist visa then there are probably working restrictions..
Check the Aus. Gov tourist and visa site for more info..
4. How much it cost for room in Footscray?
A: Probably $150 - $220 a week thereabouts
Questions in my mind... Hope you can help me find out.
1. I am 23years old want to move to Footscray area
Can i have a job as a waitress there?
2. What is the requirements?
3. Can i work there for 6 months?
4. How much it cost for room in Footscray?
Thanks!!!
being a coder / software developer can be an exciting and very (financially) rewarding career and I think so often it's an entrepreneurial creative and business activity - which means it may be challenging to land a job in the field .. often it requires the person to create their own job..
But having said that.. there are still companies that need people who can write code and come up with creative solutions..
Melbourne has thousands and thousands of apartments .. there is an apartment construction boom going on so you shouldn't have any problems finding a place to rent..
(apartments are a lot cheaper than houses..)
You may have to get a job in a unrelated field to begin with.. remember to be flexible and open to opportunities..
Goo Luck..
and my spouse has student visa, she is CA and has 5+ experience.
My question is do i will get job in software industry ? or do i need to do some kind of odd jobs 1st ?
how can book 1 small apartment not shared near la trobe uni?
Best Regards,
khus
My bills (single person in flat in south east melbourne)
electricity (every 3 months) $140 - $180
gas (every 2 months) $65 - $75
water (every 3 months) $160 - $400 depending if you have a leaky tap
Main electricity energy guzzlers
Air Conditioners and Heaters
Electric hot water systems
Refrigerators
Electric Cookers
Lighting
Main expense is from air cons and heaters
Use a fan instead of air con and you will save a lot
Don't leave the lights on when you're not in the room
limit your use of electric heaters and you will save a lot
About refrigerators, I've read it's not good to turn the power off/on regularly because
it can cause the compressor to pack up ...
Electricity, gas and water all have a daily connection charge of something like $1.10 - $1.30 each per day not including any usage .. so often a lot of the bill is just the connection charge..
So even if you use hardly anything you will still find your bill will be for a reasonably high(ish) amount because of the connection fees... (yes it's a ripoff but they all do it unfortunately)
THE BEST WAY TO SAVE A TON OF MONEY
Share your room or flat with a friend and instantly you've halved your rent.. (save more if you have 2 or 3 friends living with you..)
Rent is the biggest bill you will have .. so sharing can save you a fortune..
also with sharing you'll also save huge amounts on the electricity, gas and water charges..
Oh and I wanna know about the water bill too, we don't have a washing machine. And don't include internet connection and gas bill because those 2 are already included in the rent
Thank you so much
I have found you can live quite cheaply but it often means you give away certain spending money activities..
If you take your own made-at-home lunch to work with you and don't smoke, don't spend tons of money at cafes and fast food restaurants then you will easily saves thousands in a year.
I work part-time in a shop and I really get to see how people waste so much money.. especially on cigarettes and soft drinks, energy drinks and other rubbish.
I take a sandwich into work and 2 chocolate digestive biscuits (from Aldi, quite delicious) and drink instant coffee that's provided where I work. Why spend $10 a day on lunch when you can spend next to nothing.. That's a saving of over $200 a month.. plus it's just as enjoyable.. and at least you know what's gone into your sandwich..
Don't buy a car unless you need it for your work... cars eat up so much money because you have annual registration, insurance, repairs/maintenance and running costs..
Just use a Myki card on public transport.. no parking or speeding fines, no petrol costs, no breaking down on the freeway.. no hassles..
My mobile phone plan was $300 for 360 days, unlimited calls in Australia, txt/sms and 2 GB data per month.. now there are even better plans with more data allowance available.
Buy your food and supplies from the top value supermarkets and grocery stores and cook for yourself..
To some questions..
Q. How long does it take to get a job?
A: You can land a job in one or two business days if you're prepared to do almost anything..
If you're fussy and want a job in a particular white color profession then it may take a weeks or months..
Q: How much is day care?
A: It's expensive (better google it..)
Q: Rent in a safe cheap suburb?
A: 1 bedroom flat $220 to $270 per week close to public transport in nice south east suburb of Melb.
(2 bed flat add extra $100 per week)
Q: Electricity/Gas/Water etc..
A: Probably all up around $120 - $180 per month depending on how much you use..
I am planning to move into Melboure early Jan-2017 along with my spouse and kid[2 years] all of us have PR. We will be moving in there without jobs. I would like to have a rough estimate on the following
1. Job - How long does it take to get one - I am into software and my spouse is in sales
2. Day care cost
3. Rent - safe, cheaper suburb preferred [since both of us will be jobless]
4. Electricity bills and other expenses
Getting a viable job is HARD.
Paying rent costs too much.
Bills, groceries and going out are REALLY high.
Am quite worried about how things will roll out in Australia.
People saying things are easy in Australia are either lying or having a clue. Or unless they earn more than $100k yearly.
People often struggle because they have a entitled attitude on what they should have .. but really, if they were to take a reality check and stop being dramatic they could start saving a lot more money and stop feeling sorry for themselves.
You can easily live in Melbourne on a modest amount if you are sensible and not crazy with your spending.
Don't waste money on buying and maintaining a car if you can get by on public transport
Stop spending money on takeaway coffees and treats when you could save a fortune by making your own lunch and drinking instant coffee.
Don't live in a big house when a small flat would be quite sufficient..
Get house/flat mates in to share the rent and bills
Stop going to the movies and pubs, clubs and restaurants .. they all eat up your cash..
Don't pay for NetFlix or cable TV.. it's all rubbish anyway... just watch your content free over your internet connection.
Use a pre paid mobile account .. pre pay for a year .. unlimited australia wide calls & text and 2-10 GB of data a month.. Unlimited mobile pre pays start around $25 per month..
Learn to cook
Go on free urban picnics and have fun in the outdoors..
Stop wasting money on silly designer clothes
You can have fun, enjoy life and save money by living on a shoestring..
It's important to save up as much money as you can and put it in the bank..
maybe look at investments .. remember the share market zigzags up and down every day..
1.5 bedroom unit 30 mins by tram to the CBD is $520, per week or house 570$ if you were very lucky to get a liveable one. Elicits expensive. Easy to google online rather than ask.
Re US queries, your housing is so cheap in many places as is good food and clothing. Went to an auction yesterday, 1,633,000 for a 1.5 bedroom ugly 1916 hovel. Heritage overlay so cant knock it down or visibly build up high. still a 10 minute walk and 30 mins into the city by train.
Any clue or help where to go to find suitable jobs in Melbourne? Thanks.
I have an offer of moving to Melbourne as expat.
I'm married with 3 small children (1,3,6).
the offer is on 190K (before tax). If I understand correctly it'll result in ~10K NET per month.
Is it enough? considering rent, school/nursery?
Thanks!
My wife and our 2 kids, 4 years and 11 years old, are planning to move back to Melbourne from Greece. We have been away for many years so I'd like some feedback from someone in a 4 member family living an average style of life. I'd like to know about the average cost of living around Oakleigh for a 4 member family. Say includung electricity, gas, water, internet and average food supplies. Since the average pay is about 3800 to 4200 per month (if I am correct) how much would the average cost of living be?
Thank you in advance, all info is welcome
I completed my post graduation in Fashion Designing but i have no work experience. After my wedding we are planing to get settled in Melbourne is there any opportunity for me to get a job or am i suppose to get a local degree to get a job.
any idea about the pay for fashion merchandiser or a Fashion stylist there.
There are lot's of jobs where you can make $15 - $25 per hour cash by working in cafes, restaurants,
kitchens, cleaning offices, driving taxis and urber, at the car wash, home removalist, working on building sites, gardening, cooking, pizza and food delivery, helping in a shop, computer IT support.. the list goes on...
Remember the secret to living really cheap is to have roommates and follow some of the ideas listed in previous postings here.
Make sure you fit in enough time to study when you're working all these jobs...
Don't Gamble (because all your money will go..)
Don't Smoke (because it's around $23 a pack of cigs)
Don't drive a car (unless it's for your work... having a car and all it's costs works out over $200 a week...)
I am from India.Thinking of studying in Oz.I have offer letters from unis RMIT and La Trobe.I am pretty much interested in opting RMIT. But,one thing that i'm worrying in choosing RMIT is it's tution fee (too high). Do you think I can at least cover some of my tution fees along with the living expenses.How many dollars can we save working part times?? (rough figure at least please).
Thanks in advance!!
Are you adaptable and flexible and not get upset over the slightest thing..
1. co-dwell with 2 or 3 others
2. rent a place walking distance to a railway station
3. don't have a landline - just use mobile and data from your mobile phone
4. don't get a car - use public transport
5. don't buy lunches and coffees ... take your lunch with you to work and drink instant coffee
6. don't smoke (very very expensive habit)
7. don't gamble (it's a mugs game)
8. learn how to cook
9. avoid pubs, clubs,bars because often trouble happens in and around these places
10. have fun and adventure and get a job
So once again in a nutshell: if I have 5+ years international experience do I have a chance to get an office job once arriving in Melbourne or first I will only get some kind of hospitality jobs because no one will take me seriously because I doN't have any austrailian experience?
can you please post about the lifestyle, transport and travel for people living in Melbourne..
What are the top 10 locations to live in?
How should I regard my personal safety?
Is there good variety of reasonably priced food, cafes, restaurants, takeaways available?
An Individual and/or a company is eligible to apply for a license from ACMA to own and operate their own radio station transmitting "narrowcast" program content on the edges of the standard broadcast band and off-band spectrum segments.
87.6, 87.8, 88.0 mHz VHF FM 1 watt transmitter power
5055, 5045, 3210, 2368.5, 2355 kHz Shortwave (tropic bands) AM (1000 watts)
70, 77, 151, 152, 173 mHz (bands) VHF (Narrowband) FM (50 watts)
1611, 1620, 1629, 1638, 1647, 1656, 1665, 1674, 1683, 1692, 1701 kHz MF/Mediumwave AM (400 watts)
Learn more by copying and pasting the following link into your browser
http://members.boardhost.com/australiaradio/
Co-channel and adjacent channel separation distances apply in the allocation of radio licenses.
Rules apply to the type of on-air content that is permissible with these license categories.
These are not Commercial Radio Broadcasting Licenses, these are not Community Radio Broadcasting licenses. The licenses above are for narrowcasting - usually this means for non mainstream content such as foreign language and cultural content, religious content and content that is under represented under mainstream radio broadcasting outlets.
For example, on the MF/MW AM band 1611 - 1701 kHz the majority (not all) are either foreign language stations (Chinese, Indian, Sri Lankan, Greek, Macedonian, Filipino, Spanish, etc..) or religious.
There are a few pop and dance music stations operating..
So for people with an interest in radio broadcasting then Australia may be right up your alley.
If you have a job which is readily available if you are not choosy, cost of living is not a factor because wages are also comparatively high. If you wish a better lifestyle, you can get a second job easily. In Australia, even a cleaner can be wealthy if he chooses to work because wages are high. For this reason, there is greater opportunity not found in the vast majority of other 'rich' countries.
Other than owning a home, Australia as a whole is reasonable cost wise once you are mortgage free.
Unlike other developed countries, you can have dignity even on a lower income. Housing is modern and water is safe to drink from the tap. There is little violence in comparison. Yes there are those that say there is a nanny state but that's the price of a functional safe society. But hey there is also great freedom not found in other so called free countries.
Freedom to choose, freedom to criticize even the most powerful politician, freedom to work or not to work, freedom from fear of violence from idiots with guns, freedom of religion, essentially free education and health.
Yes we have a few bigots, idiots and racists but which country has none and we have a wonderful multicultural society that is generally accepting and inclusive.
You will find derogatory comments mainly from those who either did not wish to integrate or considered themselves above the majority of people or the rule of the land.
Otherwise this rich and great country welcomes all who wishes to give loyalty to her and be Australian if you live here.
#Dave... undoubtedly you are one of those less enamoured of this country but then you sound young with a decided chip on your shoulder given your experience most likely as a foreign student here. Clearly you are beset with social issues of relative self import, only gravitated towards the cheapest beer and the most unwholesome of housing conditions in the lowest income areas as would appear from your impressions. Did you consume dated food if you felt malnourished eating the local fare ? This is strange considering the average Australian height is second only to Netherlands and thus speaks as true evidence.
Ostensibly you still need tutoring in english so you may wish to trial the educational and cultural delights of England or other countries of similar ilk where they meet your spurious standards of housing and other material expectations. The world would appreciate your candour.
Free:
Being gay and having a same sex partner is legal in Australia.
Having the right to own and run your own business is encouraged and supported in Australia.
Being able to access the Internet, buy and sell over the Internet and use media, social and economic sites are all legal in Aust.
Being able to enjoy adult entertainment is legal in Australia.
Driving cars (with a driving license) , riding motorbikes (with a motorcycle license), traveling on trains, buses, trams and in Taxi's is all ok
Going on holidays and enjoying yourself is legal and ok
Saving money, investing in stocks, property, financial vehicles is all available and ok to participate in.
Renting or buying a house/flat/apartment or any other dwelling is open and available.
Going out to cafes, restaurants, clubs, bars, food courts, shopping centers, public gardens/parks, swimming pools, golf courses, cricket pitches, soccer and footy fields, boating, bike riding, mountain hiking, beeches, discotheques, it's all available to you to enjoy..
Having friends over and having fun.. being social or being a recluse you are free to choose..
Is Australia an expensive country to live in?
It can be .. but there are ways to live cheaply without spending much money..
See some of the earlier posts on how to cut costs and live life for a small amount of money and still enjoy yourself..
The basics for cheap and fun living:
1. share a house/flat with others and split the rent and bills ...
2. eat in and take a sandwich or lunch-pack to work
3. drink instant coffee or buy $1 cappuccino from seven eleven
4. eat free meals at the Hare Krishna temple
5. eat near free meals at Lentil As Anything
6. eat very cheap meals at Om
7. use public transport and don't buy a car unless you need a car for your employment
8. Travel on trains and arrive at your destination before 7.15 am Monday to Friday
and it's free transport. (Trains only..)
9. Try to limit or avoid using heaters and air conditioners because these use up a lot of electricity and push up your utility bills..
10. Find ways to enjoy free entertainment and recreation time .. picnics, back-pack portable adventures.. take a thermos and lunch-pack with you when urban exploring..
11. If you are going to be using public transport every day then save a fortune and buy a MYKI yearly ticket.. (or monthly or 6-monthly etc..)
12. Use public libraries as your virtual office and Internet hub.
Having fun and adventure need not cost you anything other than a train ticket and some food supplies in your back-pack..
If you are wealthy then you can enjoy high-end fun and entertainment and lifestyle choices..
If you're broke or on a small budget you can still have fun and enjoy life.. be creative .. be adventurous..
Australia is both free and a nanny state
If you are going into your own business you need to familiarise yourself with GST tax and other business matters.
If you are prepared to put in the hours and apply your intelligence and effort over a period of time then through your endeavours the rewards will flow
where you can enjoy a good quality of life with a nice home in a safe neighbourhood.
Everyone needs interests and hobbies, don't wait for something to fall into your lap... get out there and discover where your passions and interests lay..
The glass is half full if you make up your mind to be positive...
i am from India wants to move to aus. can any one explain about job opportunities in warehousing operation manager
In most situations, Australia is NOT a good place to move to when there are so many other major cities that will take you in. Depending where you are moving from and what lifestyle you are after, here are some basic to the point, points:
1. Housing is overpriced and of poor quality. It's embarrassing.
2. Virtually most things in Australia are of poor standard and quality compared to other comparable cities/countries
3. Generally speaking, people are narrow minded. There is no "zest" or "want" for anything good. Hence why the place is known for wearing thongs and shorts. People live in a fake pretentious world that they "think" is luxury.
4. You have zero freedom or ability to think for yourself. Everything is run by governments - they are vampires run by an English regime, who have tactfully set up every single system, molecule and EVERYTHING so that they make money from it.
5. The government doesn't give back anything.
6. High tax, low income to cost of living rations etc.
7. Don't expect to drink a real beer. It's watered down and tastes horrible.
8. When you get to retirement age, they tax your pension/super and if you own a house you will get NOTHING. It's not a retirement friendly country.
9. Everyone drives korean cars and Australian built poor quality cars - the few that drive nicer cars are in debt, or have the money to pay over inflated new car prices.
10. The fuel is of very poor quality.
11. You pay premium prices, for low quality goods such as fashion (no fashion here), anything really.
12. The produce such as chicken, pork, fruit and veg etc is of very low quality - the chicken stinks, you feel malnourished, pork smells, Bananas don't taste like Bananas - they smell of all sorts of chemicals.
Basically the whole lifestyle to me, is driven by money and finance. Careers, jobs, make money etc etc. But you get nothing back. You will feel very EMPTY due to the mentality of the people who live here, and also the lack of REAL meaningful things to do.
The Govt here just uses you so you spend on the economy and they leave you for dead once you cannot work. In turn you get poor quality everything and high prices.
The best way to sum up Australia is - BACK TO FRONT/SELF CHOSEN PRISON etc
Ignore this and you will see - unless you are ignorant and love an empty lifestyle driven by shopping like a lot of Australians are proud of...you should explore other Countries. A lot of things are incomprehendable - until you live here yourself, you won't be able to comprehend what level (or lack of) this place operates at.
Raw truth.
Good luck
Working Visa/right of abode..
If may be easier to go through a migration agent in your home country who can work their way through all the paperwork etc..
Good luck and let us know how you go...
If you want any information about rent, lifestyle, transport and anything else please feel free to post here..
CoCo
Thanks
Melbourne is a great city to live and work in but it can also be a dangerous place and the city itself does have some unfortunate elements..
Very visible and rough looking homeless people camping in front of offices/shops and doorways in the main streets of the city ..
Unprovoked violence, robberies and unpleasantness is a lot more common now and you have to be careful and know what to lookout for and to avoid potentially risky situations and locations.
Public transport can be incredibly packed-out and crushing... getting the morning train into the city can be a nightmare since population explosion particularly in the south east of Melbourne.
Having said that, don't be put off from making Melbourne your home, just be careful and aware of the risks and dangers and make it your habit to avoid such things.
If you have any questions please post them and I will try and answer any enquiry..
Best to look up http://jobs.health.vic.gov.au/index.htm web site and navigate around for more information
HOUSING
It can be very expensive to buy and own property.. Housing has experienced amazing price inflation over the past 10 years.. What was $300,000 is now $700,000 and what was a one million dollar property is probably closer to 3 million.
Buying residential housing (houses on land) is very expensive now..
Most personal wealth is now created simply through the price inflation of housing ..
Wages haven't changed much, there's virtually no manufacturing that's done in Australia and Australia isn't a world winner when it comes to popular electronics and communications.. There's no Apple type company in Australia, no local iTunes of any merit and very few hit movies are made here..
Either you work in a cushy corporate or government job or you struggle away as a small business owner like with a cafe, restaurant, news agency, tattslotto shop, clothes shop, or you go get a job for a small business operator.. perhaps drive taxis, trucks, vans..
BUILDING TRADE
Contractors, brickies, plumbers, electricians, roof tilers, gardeners, anything related to building and renovating houses is in demand..
RENT OR BUY A HOME - If you're wealthy then buy yourself a mansion.. If you're on a budget then it's probably a lot cheaper to rent... Rent what you need and that's in your budget.. Don't rent a big house when a small flat would do and be much cheaper on your pocket.
Apartments (Flats/Units) are cheaper than houses .. by a large degree .. mostly because you're not buying your own land...
One bedroom 60s/70s flat close to public transport and not too far from the city .. within 10 to 20 km of the city, $240k to $320k
A fancy recently built one bedroom apartment with same attributes would be an extra $100K to $150K on top of that price estimate.
CAN YOU LIVE CHEAPLY
Of course you can but you can't if you're not capable of co-habituating with others and pooling your rent..
My neighbors have 3 people in a one bedroom flat.. the rent is $250 per week which is $83 each, put four in and it's only $62.50 per person.
If you are inflexible or stubborn and want everything your own way then expect to pay for it and stop whinging about it..
Some people need a reality check and to stop playing the victim...
If you keep comparing yourself to wealthy property owners who have big houses and fancy cars then you'll feel a bit let down with your situation .. so stop worrying about how the rich live and just get on with your life and enjoy every day.. remember.. even the rich get sick and die...
There's fare more accurate info in the Sydney thread: the costs in both cities is roughly the same. These are some of the most expensive cities in the world and the idea that people can come with almost nothing and score a high paying job (when the job market is now crushingly competitive) and live a great lifestyle, may have been true in the 1970s, but that's almost half a century ago! These are very, very expensive cities, and if you don't have a high income, difficult to survive in.
My net income is 800p.w (simple warehouse job) My net savings are 315p.w.
I can share the rent and receive $170p.w. (bills included) making thus my net savings 485p.w. ($25220p.a.)
Life is very comfortable in Melbourne.
1- my certificate will be acceptable for them ?
Requires google search
1- is there any chance for me to get any civil engineering job over there and if i could, how much salary ?
Yes and No, you may have to work in an unrelated field for a while.
Be flexible and prepared to do something different because you can't always land the job of your dreams - could be a couple of years before you find a placement in the CE area.
Income $60K - $140K depending of it's a small private company, a Government department or large company.
2- i m very much interested to do my Master's degree as well, can i find any sponsorship company over there??
Requires google search..
Other visitors to this site may be able to provide more info..
m planning to move Melbourne for living maybe 1 or 1.5 years lttr and i m basically from Afghanistan and currently doing my Bsc.civil engineering in Lahore-pakistan, (Gov-Scholarship). i have no experience being on the field, and my CGPA is above 3.0.. so i have some questions if u guys kindly could help me, i'll be thankfull.
1- my certificate will be acceptable for them ?/
1- is there any chance for me to get any civil engineering job over there and if i could, how much salary ?
2- i m very much interested to do my Master's degree as well, can i find any sponsorship company over there??
The older flats built in the 60s and 70s are where the best value for money will be and quite often in fantastic locations right near train stations and bus stops..
You have to be able to put up with neighbor noise when living in a flat.. so it's best to be adaptable to these environments..
Working in shops and cafes/restaurants .. a lot of this work is off the books because many small businesses can't afford to pay the award wages and penalty rates and all that nonsense.. about the average pay for off the books work is $15 per hour cash, sometimes a bit less and sometimes a bit more... I am not advocating tax avoidance but just stating things as they are..
For those of you who don't mind getting your hands dirty or doing work that many choose not to do, there are plenty of jobs in the following areas..
Cleaning - offices, commercial premises
you will require your own car as this is typically sub-contractor type work.. but there's plenty of it around..
Dish Washing and Kitchen Hand - loads of small cafes and restaurants need staff to do this ..
Taxi, Courier, Truck, Van - driving and delivery work
House Removalist - you will need a truck and strong arms and usually someone to help you.. plenty of work..
working in shops, news agencies, cafes, restaurants, health clinics, - lot's of casual work..
I'm pretty independent person so I don't want to load my parents too much.
Thanks
Really you don't need lot's of money in order to live and enjoy life in Melbourne, of course it's all relative and how high or how low a lifestyle you're prepared to take on.
OK, most people with plenty of money don't have to concern themselves with this question as they'll get by just fine regardless of whether a loaf of bread costs $1 or $6 and by the way, a loaf of bread can be bought from $0.89 to $7.00 so once again.. you can choose the type of bread that fit's your taste and/or budget. Sliced white bread (supermarket home brand / plain label) is the cheapest.
Best value for me is the Light Rye bread @ $2.59 from the very popular German supermarket chain that has taken hold in Australia.
BIG TICKET ITEMS
RENT
TRANSPORT
FOOD
Melbourne is quickly turning into an Apartment (Flats/Units) City and everywhere you go there is loads of developments of apartments (often called Flats or Units) being built and best value for rent is Apartments because of the high stock numbers, followed by houses.
ONE BEDROOM FLATS
This is generally the cheapest option for housing and the prices are around
$230 to $300 per week in good suburbs and close to public transport.
2 bedroom flats are around $280 - $360 per week
If you move into a fancy newly built apartment then the rents will be somewhat higher..
One bedroom newly constructed fancy apartment $300 to $400 per week in good area
Two bedroom newly constructed fancy apartment $400 to $550 per week in good area
If you are prepared to move further out you can rent houses and apartments at considerably less but you will have longer commutes and possibly a higher risk of house robberies, car thieves and anti social activity..
Research on the internet about good suburbs / locations that are close to public transport
and have a low crime rate.
TRANSPORT
CARS, VANS, UTES, MOTORBIKES...
You can pick up secondhand cars very cheaply .. $500 - $3000 depending on the make and model and year of manufacture.
There's a number of websites where you can find cars for sale as well as dodgy car yards..
Same goes for Vans and Utes..
Motorbikes are for some crazy reason (import duties) kind of expensive compared to how much they used to cost when I used to buz around on them.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
$3.76 2 hour, Zones 1 & 2
$7.52 all day, Zones 1 & 2
$37.60 7 day, Zones 1 & 2
Weekend & Public Holiday Daily Cap $6.00
(Full Fare)
Concession Fares are half the prices above.
FOOD.
First rule of thumb is to shop around and get a feel for the prices..
Supermarkets can be a bit over priced for fresh fruit and vegetables.. so look for the daily specials..
EATING OUT:
Chinese Food, Indian / Sri Lankan Food, Middle East Food, FAST FOOD..
Typical Chinese, Indian type lunch specials are around $8 to $12
Fast Food meal deals
One example:
Veggie Burger, no cheese, small fries and small drink $8.70
So for a fast food meal budget for around $9 to $12 depending on the meal and size.
COFFEE in street cafes
$3.50 to $4.00 in most places
Once again look around..
In the city go for a walk along Centre Pl (between Flinders Lane and Collins St)
and you can find some great places for coffee and food.
Melbourne..
Instead of renting a place just for yourself where you have to pay 100% of the rent, water, electricity, gas etc .. advertise and get a couple of roommates in and share all these costs between the three of you .. So if your rent was $350 per week by sharing it 3 ways it's only $117 each person.. same goes with the utilities ..
If you don't need a car for work then do without one and use public transport .. not having the costs associated with a car will save you a fortune..
Get a pre-paid mobile - unlimited calls plus 2-5 GB data from $29 - $49 per month ..
There are loads of cheap places you can eat at if you know your way around ..
$8 will buy you rice, curry and naan or a Chinese meal ..
If you're good with cooking then making your own meals can save a ton of money, especially
if you're cooking for more than one..
Once you work out the tricks of living cheaply while still enjoying life it will put a smile on your face..
Housing is the biggest issue here, with rent and housing prices going up significantly in the last few years.
Before coming in please make sure that the income you are getting from your new job is enough for you and your family. Numbeo is a good guide for cost of living but some things are under-estimated.
I have 3 kids (13 years, 7 years and 2 years). I am anxious about schools, accommodation and monthly upkeep expenses. If I will cope up.
Anyone who can advise?
Melbourne Bus and Train as roads systems are superb compared with most large cities in area. East west is 100km wide and north south even more. Using trains, buses or roads in Sydney is a nightmare in comparison.
Students in CBD+inner city 4km : allow 250-300/week to cover rent and utilities if share, allow another 50 to 70 if you wish to rent alone. Yes rent is much cheaper in the burbs BUT consider extra time taken for public transport. Obviously inner city is bit cheaper and a lot easier environment to study given less noise and distraction.
Students in burbs : allow 180 to 230/week. Just stay near bus or train lines for easy access to shopping, buying food, taking break from study etc.
Some places are RIDICULOUSLY cheap rent by comparison but generally located in an area full of welfare dependents. Some Indian students got mugged..if you flash iphone or dress in levis and nikes...you are saying "PLEASE MUG ME !"
Otherwise, Melbourne is extremely safe. Unless you live or hangout in areas with drunk welfare dependents, it is as safe as Singapore. Non Australian students are allowed to work about 20 hours a week. Your level of SPOKEN English will determine your income to a huge degree. A heavy accent could see you earn around $10/hr in menial jobs. Strong practical young men willing to be construction labourers can earn well over $1000 a week with zero experience other than common sense for safety and work ethic. Cleaning or restaurant type jobs are plenty.
Other than accommodation, basics like food and dining out are almost as cheap as USA or SE asia if you are prepared to travel or hunt for supermarket specials. Mobile or cellphone pricing can be cheap as $40 unlimited pre month with 2gb data to over $100 for superb superfast Telstra.
For example : potatoes cost 2.50/kg in supermarkets but 50 cents/kg in most markets for 5kg bag. Imported thai jasmine rice around 1/kg. Supermarket brand bread is only $1 per 600gm loaf. Supermarket brand staples can be half the cost of name brands. A tin of tomatoes thus can range from 60cents to $2 for example.
A large BigMac meal is about the same price as a huge bowl of noodles in a typical Asian eatery.
Meal portions are typically in between USA and northern Europe. A large Vietnamese pho in the Asian shopping strip is 2.5-3 times the size of your standard bowl in Singapore or Malaysia or Thailand. A large pizza takeout at a decent Italian pizzeria is European diameter size but a lot more volume. Think USA topping amount ! American chain pizza are lesser quality and value but cheaper. Pasta is similar. Wine can be as cheap as $4 a bottle but $8 drinkable. Cask wine on special can be down to $10 per 3 litres. Water comes from the mountains and drinkable right out of the tap with no yukky taste! Yes we waste a HUGE amount of drinking water in our country!
Going out to pubs and nicer places is similar per Sydney, London, Paris, NYC or Tokyo etc.
Second hand cars are extremely cheap compared to Europe or asia. 2k could get you a decent ride.
There are online sites for almost anything from cars to second hand clothing ala Craigslist/Ebay etc.
WAGES : Single person anything above 50k is fine. If you share rent, it's plenty enough. Above 65k, you'd consider buying. For couple, 80k rent versus 100k buy. Add 10-15k per child.
Government education is almost free and good enough to get into university. Private education can be astronomical but it brings different benefits aside from ensuring academic success.
Medical is free in medicare clinics and widely available.
If you have good English, are not fussy about a job and are willing to work, Melbourne is a phenomenal city if you consider how much it cost the government to put such infrastructures. Income potential once you know the culture is easy per overtime, second job or part time work etc.
Like anywhere else, the greater income the greater scope.
and
#Taylor re post on Aug 07, 2015 :
Hi I'm planning to do masters in business(marketing) or (human research) from Melbourne. Can I get a decent job after my studies and settle down there?
A: I can't see why not - Melbourne is the financial and business capital of Australia
(and too is Sydney I suppose).
You will no doubt need your PR in order and any necessary qualifications to win a well paid job in the corporate or Government world.
Outside of that, there's plenty of jobs in hospitality, health and services sector.. often no formal qualifications required.
#Taylor on Aug 07, 2015 :
Q. I am moving there I would like to just move in a hotel and in the city any hotels that you know that I should look up
A: If you're going to stay sort of long-term'ish, then maybe a serviced apartment might be worth considering.. If you're here alone then have a look on Craigs List and Air BnB as there's loads of people offering rooms to rent at very affordable rates.
Copy and paste this link into your browser and navigate around all the room rentals
https://www.airbnb.com.au/s/Melbourne--Victoria--Australia?room_types[]=Private+room&price_max=40&ss_id=pc9zzhjj
Q: what are my chances coming from ny as a entry level cook / chef ?
A: I'd say pretty good... Melbourne is a dinning-out type of city .. everyone eats out
and at all ends of the $ dollar scale.
From cheap lunches in the $7 - $12 range to fancy joints in the $70 - $200 range..
So long as you can get the right papers together (working visa etc..) then you should have no problems..
Also, cooks/chefs can make good money by working extra hours, penalty shifts and weekends / public holidays.. So if you are prepared to put the extra hours in then you can be bring in a ton of dough..
Victoria is currently offering visa nomination for eligible chefs. To be eligible to apply chefs must meet Victoria's minimum eligibility requirements and address the nomination assessment requirements for the occupation. See the Occupation Lists for more information.
More detailed information about applying for Victorian Government visa nomination is available in the Visas and Immigration section.
Copy and paste the following link into your browser
http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/working-and-employment/occupations/chef#.VbmxGUU84fo
What type of housing isn't appreciating through the roof..
One and two bedroom unrenovated flats in older blocks .. 60s & 70s built blocks.. in good areas
can still be purchased from $240K - $280K and you don't have to live miles/k,'s away from civilization. (add around $100k for a 2 bedroom flat).
In good areas like Murrumbeena (loc 13 km from city) right near the railway station you can pick up places for these amounts..
The Reason:
An over supply of newly built smart apartments that has caused the devaluation of the old 60s/70s
built blocks..
The prices haven't increased over the past 5 years for the older blocks of flats.
HOUSES ARE EXPENSIVE because LAND is sought after by investors, developers and cashed up individuals.
Also, the cashed-up arrivals from overseas tend to buy newly built or renovated properties and usually not the style of the older blocks.
OTHER OPTION:
Move 30 + km from the city and buy a house for $300 - $400K and commute into the city every day
(if you work in the city).
Thank you for your timely response, i really appreciate it.
Please, if possible, do share those weblink's as it would be of great use to me.
Thanks
Hamilton
Food, restaurants and Café society are the only retail business that always seem to be doing a thriving business.
There are too may clothes shops and big box stores to compete in those other areas..
I think a small café and specialized little restaurants are great businesses.
I personally would stay away from a franchise and just start from scratch and to keep it as simple as you can..
Don't go into large shopping malls/centers because the rents are just too man high ..
I posted a long reply with lot's of useful links but for some reason it hasn't shown up.
To summarize.
Melbourne has a lot of Independent film making and production businesses
Funding for independent films is available from a variety of State governments
and other entities such as Screen Aust.
There are a number of online websites where you can find out more information and meet fellow like-minded creative people and gain an insight into the film and digital entertainment industry.
Melbourne is a great city for creative people Film making, TV entertainment, recorded music, live performances. Actors, Singers, Musicians, Voice-overs, 3D graphic modelling, Writers, Composers, Backroom support, Camera Operators, Lighting, Make-up, Costume design/making, props building.. etc etc..
Come to Melbourne and realise your ambition..
I'm a 3D artist and graphic designer planning to relocate to Melbourne to look for work. I would like to know, how is the film industry like down there, and is there wide scope for job opportunities in my field of expertise. I have 5+ years experience in the field of web design, SEO management, 3d animation and graphic design and film production. Please advice.
Thanks and regards.
Hamilton
what amount am i looking at for a good genuine coffee shop such as "league of honest coffee"
How difficult is it to find a job as a secondary maths teacher in Melbourne?
not sure - check the Victoria Government website
Is it better to apply for the job while in London or in Melbourne?
I would say do as much before arriving so that you have some of the pieces already in place
for your new life.
What is the salary like?
I am guessing - but I would say probably between $60K to $100K per year
How are the schools and curriculum like because I will be moving with two children and my husband. My children are in Year 11 and year 2 at the moment.
Check google and lookup Victoria government website for more info..
My husband is open to any job.
That's good because it pays to be flexible and willing to work in areas where perhaps you haven't in the past..
Rgds,
Tom Tom Turnaround
I am planning of moving to Oz in December from London. How difficult is it to find a job as a secondary maths teacher in Melbourne? Is it better to apply for the job while in London or in Melbourne?
What is the salary like? How are the schools and curriculum like because I will be moving with two children and my husband. My children are in Year 11 and year 2 at the moment. My husband is open to any job.
Please advise.
Kanchan
You can make $12 - $18 per hour and if you can rake up enough hours then you can cover your costs of rent, food and transport.
Good place to find affordable rooms to rent is on notice boards inside small cafes and restaurants and also on gumtree.com.au
Im planning to study and move in australiathis year. I wanted to ask is it possible that if i have a student visa i could get a part time job?
What would be the jobs available for students like me?
Can i survive in the money i get in my part time job?
Thank you for the response
Yannie
1. Is a salary of 90k sufficient
Yes it's tons of money
2. schooling
You will have to search Victoria Government websites and google for more info
3. costs of schooling
don't know
4. obtain an Australian Permanent Resident Visa
find a lawyer and research the web
5. wife - to work
once you have your PR it will be a lot easier to find "professional" work
otherwise there's plenty of casual jobs around
6 cost / renting 2 or 3 bedroom apartments/houses and rules
most apartments/flats are either 1 or 2 bedrooms, very few are 3 bedroom,
the only rules generally are that the lease holder has a job or has the means to support
paying the rent on time.
You will have to pay one month of rent as a bond and one month of rent in advance and sign a lease, most leases are for 12 month terms.
One bedroom flats/apartments $220 - $300 per week
Two bedroom flats/apartments $320 - $600 per week
If you move in the outer suburbs you will be able to find cheaper.
Try to live walking distance to public transport, particularly the train/MET line
Buy a yearly Myki travel card and benefit from much cheaper daily transport right across Melbourne
(Zones one and two)
Look for good deals for unlimited calls/sms texts plus 2G-5G data per month .. $29 - $45 per month
See if there are any specials for buying a year of mobile use in advance and save more money
AVOID HIGH COSTS TIPS
Heating and Cooling homes is EXPENSIVE
Stay warm by wearing more clothing
Stay cool by using fans instead of aircon
Use public transport instead of private cars (unless you need a car for your income)
Get to know the best places to eat out and the most affordable prices and save money
Indian Food / Sri Lankan Food: Clayton and adjacent suburbs, Victoria
Chinese Food: City, Box Hill and all over Melbourne
Middle Eastern Food: Coburg, Brunswick and all over Melbourne.
Greek Food: Oakleigh, City and other areas.
If you are Indian or Sri Lankan and want to be near your grocery stores, restaurants and community
then these are the choice suburbs I would recommend:
Clayton
Clayton South
Westall
Murrumbeena
Carnegie
Glen Huntly
I will be relocating to Melbourne and i have a few questions:
1. Is a salary of 90k sufficient to a family of 3 (Myself, Wife & Daughter)?
1.1 What other charges should i be expecting that will de deducted from my monthly salary?
1.2 Can i obtain a home loan to purchase a house with that salary and on a 457 visa?
2. My daughter will need schooling and so far im going to private/catholic schools, as im unsure on the environemtn of public schools, i might change to public once im more comfortable after settling in.
3. What kind of costs for private/catholic schools, should i be looking at?
4. We are relocating forever and we need to obtain an Australian Permanent Resident Visa. Whats the best approach to this?
5. My Wife will be a dependent under me. But we would like to remain within the law and convert her visa with working abilities so she can work on a part-time basis.
6. THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR TIME AND PATIENCE, its truly kind of you to provide this kind of help freely.
Paulo
1. The average rent cost per month for a couple (1 BHK)and What is the best place to search economical rental flats nearby Melbourne. (through agents or online)
A: Local real estate agents, web sites like realestate.com.au and domain.com.au and gumtree
2. The current status of Australian job market for internal auditors / accountants.
A: Probably a bit over-crowded with qualified accounts, you may have to be flexible and broad minded and willing to try something else..
3. Any govt. courses for Resume writing / interview skills for immigrants conducted in Melbourne.
A: Not sure about gov courses but there are many websites and blogs that assist with resume writing and interview techniques..
4. What are the basic critical things to do within first few days. (searching a rented house, social security no. etc)
A: Find a place to live, set up a bank account and get a job.
5. How and where to search for odd jobs.
A: gumtree.com.au plus word of mouth and local restaurants, shops & cafes often have positions .. also there are usually jobs available in driving taxis, courier driving, security guards, gardeners, house/business cleaning, furniture and household removals etc..
1. The average rent cost per month for a couple (1 BHK)and What is the best place to search economical rental flats nearby Melbourne. (through agents or online)
2. The current status of Australian job market for internal auditors / accountants.
3. Any govt. courses for Resume writing / interview skills for immigrants conducted in Melbourne.
4. What are the basic critical things to do within first few days. (searching a rented house, social security no. etc)
5. How and where to search for odd jobs.
Guys, I'm sailing same boat as yours, Since I have Australian PR and tentatively planning to migrate during Sep 2015 and probably to Melbourne. I did see your posts and was interested to know the basic questions like Monthly expense in Melbourne, Jobs for Software Engineer...
This details would certainly help in better planning.
Advanced thanks.
The next price point is $35 - $45 with a larger data allowance
The key is to shop around - also be prepared to be on a 3G second tier telco capacity .. but never the less it works fine.. that's my experience..
Avoid using electric room heaters, hot water heaters, air conditioners, clothes dryers, dish washing machines..
All of these can make your quarterly bill go as high as $400 - $600 for 3 months duration in a one bedroom flat...
By being careful and considerate you should be able to bring your electricity bill down to around $150 - $170
per 3 months (if you have electric hot water...) and even less if you have gas hot water.
You can't save on the connection to the premises fee which is $1.17 per day (approx) - but you can save on the usage
part of the bill by fitting low consuming LED light globes, washing dishes by hand in the sink, use fans instead of aircon's,
wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot water, and here's the biggest tip if you have an electric hot water system ..
TURN THE POWER OFF at the switchboard or power socket on your electric hot water system as they keep burning through power
even when no one is at home ... keeps showers short and don't fill up baths... (or put $2 into a money box everytime you have a shower...)
If you want to live in a house but don't have much cash, then move around 25 - 40 km out from the city area and housing drops
to about one third or one quarter the cost of being close to the city.
You can share you housing and that will drop your expenses by a huge amount.
Really, the main cost of living is housing, whether renting or buying..
Food doesn't have to be expensive, especially if you cook at home.
If you want to save money - don't buy a car... but make sure you live walking distance to a railway station.
Public Transport
Transport using the public transport system (MET) isn't expensive compared to other countries and you can save a fortune by buying a yearly
Myki card - that way you can have unlimited travel within zone 1 and zone 2 for a whole year for the cost of a cup of coffee and a biscuit
(full fare for one year $1395 = $3.83 per day)
Copy and paste this web address into your browser
http://www.ptua.org.au/members/offers/
If you're too picky and choosy then you will be left on the curb... and you won't be doing yourself any favours...
You might have an engineering degree or an accounting degree but that's not necessarily where the jobs are... so you need to take a reality check
and start making money doing whatever you can..
Working in shops can make good money as hourly rate for casual workers varies between $25 - $55 an hour depending if it's a normal day or a public holiday, Sunday etc... (In the US you'd be making around $7 an hour doing the same thing..)
Restaurant and Kitchen work.. if you're new and moved over from India or Asia then casual work in restaurants shouldn't be hard to find.. also there are lot's of cleaning jobs available..
Driving taxi's, courier drivers, van and truck drivers... lot's of work available...
Public Transport
The public transport sector is a very area to work and pays really well plus you get unlimited free public transport in Victoria,
it's best if you already know someone who's working there... as there aren't many advertised jobs published.. so it's a matter of who you know...
Telecommunications and Internet providers
There's jobs in the testing and diagnostics areas in these telco's and the pay is $60,000 to $120,000
Government jobs and Large Organisations
Fire, Police, Ambulance, Hospitals, Public Transport, Roads, Banking, Insurance, Money/Stocks traders, Utilities (Electricity and Gas) companies,
These all pay handsome remuneration's and many have secure tenures..
If you're in the building trade there's lot's of work and the pay is sensational..
Brickies, roofies, tilers, electricians, plumbers, windows, painters, landscapers, architects,
Tradies make very good money and there's a shortage in Australia
Over the past 20 years house prices have increased between 600 to 1200 per cent...
In good areas - new or renovated properties..
Apartments (Flats)/Condo's (2 bed) cost approx. $600K - $800K
Houses cost approx. $900K - $1.8M
Large mansions in good areas: $8M to $25M
It's probably cheaper to rent than purchase... Australians are obsessed and fixated with property ownership and
property investment...
Hi,
My name is Dinesh and I am planning to move to Melbourne, Australia in the month of July 2015.
good choice
I hold a PR Visa which entitles me to work in any state. I am a professional Landscape Architect with 16 years of Experience in infra firms, working with PARSONS, Middle East and Louis Berger too.
sounds promising
I tried searching jobs on net where I see the salary in range of 60000 till 90000 AUD per annum. Is the range OK .
Yes that's plenty to live well
I would like to know how much is the tax percentage
The first 18K is no tax and then it's incremental
I need to pay and where could I find good education for my kids (boy in grade 6 and daughter in playgroup) .Which schools do I need to target and what about the fees...
more google research required by you
Is everything covers My wife is also Electronics Engineer . She is self maintained entrepreneur, and run a florist boutique shop.
sounds like you will have a nice double income
My question is how much is the expenses involve in initial settlement say for a year.
There is, rent for a year for a one bedder in a good area $15,000
Food, power/gas/water and public transport - somewhere around $13,000 - $15,000
So have around $30K as a back up so you don't end up in a fix
Could anyone suggest me if some companies can directly hire me.
you will need to do your own google research
Also how much time will it take to get he Permanent Citizenship.
It's a points based system plus you have the ELTS to pass
I look forward for suggestions from colleagues in the same profession as Landscape Architects to brief me what softwares / planting knowlegge/ books should I read to have good knowledge about the VICTORIA State.
Start doing more specific research about these career choices and the demand for these positions in Victoria.
Also, be flexible and willing to work outside these fields because sometimes you can't always get what you want immediately..
I welcome all suggestions and experiences that people have gone through for settling having just the INDIAN DEGREES.
What courses I need to do. Target to open consultancy-design studio if I could not hand on better job with time...
Look up Victoria Government web site that assists and provides information to new immigrants settling in Victoria.
Awaiting your valuable responses..
Thanks in advance..
Warm Regards
Dinesh
My pleasure Dinesh, all the best, CoCo
My name is Dinesh and I am planning to move to Melbourne, Australia in the month of July 2015. I hold a PR Visa which entitles me to work in any state. I am a professional Landscape Architect with 16 years of Experience in infra firms, working with PARSONS, Middle East and Louis Berger too. I tried searching jobs on net where I see the salary in range of 60000 till 90000 AUD per annum. Is the range OK .I would like to know how much is the tax percentage I need to pay and where could I find good education for my kids (boy in grade 6 and daughter in playgroup) .Which schools do I need to target and what about the fees...Is everything covers My wife is also Electronics Engineer . She is self maintained entrepreneur, and run a florist boutique shop.
My question is how much is the expenses involve in initial settlement say for a year. Could anyone suggest me if some companies can directly hire me. Also how much time will it take to get he Permanent Citizenship. I look forward for suggestions from colleagues in the same profession as Landscape Architects to brief me what softwares / planting knowlegge/ books should I read to have good knowledge about the VICTORIA State. I welcome all suggestions and experiences that people have gone through for settling having just the INDIAN DEGREES. What courses I need to do. Target to open consultancy-design studio if I could not hand on better job with time...
Awaiting your valuable responses..
Thanks in advance..
Warm Regards
Dinesh
How much will it cost to live @ Melbourne
MONTHLY Calculations
TRANSPORT - MET Transport (trains/Bus/Tram)
30 day Zone 1 & 2 Myki Pass $ 138.60
This gives you unlimited travel across both zones 1 & 2 using all modes of public transport for 30 days.
Eating Out:
ISKCON Temple - free vegetarian meals lunch time 1 pm and dinner time 6 pm
located 197 Danks Street, Albert Park
Om vegetarian restaurants Melbourne
$6.50
Crossways vegetarian restaurant Melbourne
$7.50 full price or $5.50 concession/students
Various Indian/Sri Lankan/Chinese/Asian restaurants around Melbourne
$8.50 to $11.00 rice and curry
Masala Dosa $7 - $8
Lentil As Anything vegetarian restaurant located in Abotsford - pay by donation (typically $5 - $10)
RENT / Accomodation
one bedroom flat $220 - $260 per week
Monthly $950 - $1200
Save money by sharing accomodation
Electricity and Gas approximates
Gas $30 - $40 per month (billed every 2 months)
Electricity $50 per month (billed every 3 months)
Avoid using heaters and air conditioners as they can quadruple your bills and send you broke
Mobile Phone
Best value is Lebara pre paid (using the Vodafone network). $29.90 per month
or pre pay 12 months $300
unlimited calls*, unlimited texts*, 2 GB data per month
(* Inside Australia only)