Want to take a look at some comparisons? Want to know how grocery shopping and bills compare for example? You are in the right place!
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Shop Equivalent
”Everything Stores:
Brodie
B and M - Kmart
Home Bargains - Big W
Matalan - Target
”Food Shops:
Brodie
Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose – Woolworths
Aldi, Lidl - Aldi
Asda - Coles
”Clothes Shops:
Brodie
Cotton on
Next is now here too online
Primark - no equivalent that I’ve found but Kmart, Big W and Target do reasonably priced clothes.
”Electrical Store
Brodie
Curry’s - Good guys
Harvey Normans
Argos - Big W
Apple Store – Apple Store
”Pet Shops:
Pets at Home - Pet Barn, Pet Stock, Pet City
”Furniture Shops:
Brodie
IKEA - IKEA
B and M - Kmart
Big W
”Fast Food
McDonald’s - McDonald’s (they don’t have curry sauce over here but do have Aoli which is incredible! )
Burger King - Hungry Jacks
KFC - KFC, Chicken treat, Red Rooster
Nandos - Nandos
Dominos - DominosChinese and Indian take away a just aren’t even close to the UK’s so make the most of them before the move !
Brodie
Bills
”Costs based on a couple living in Melbourne CBD.
Deanna, 2024
Rent: $560 including all bills and internet, for a 2 bedroom apartment in the CBD (is shared with another couple).
Phone contracts: We both have SIM only contracts. Mine is $25 a month, my partner’s $39 both with Optus with data variance on both.
”Where do you live including State?
Cai, September 2024
Melton South, Vic
Who is in your family?
Me, partner, child - 8months
Move date:
2012
Mortgage (per month):
1800
Council rates per year if applicable:
1000
Building insurance per year if applicable:
Strata - 1.5+ insurancek
Electricity per year:
1100
Gas per year:
600
Water per year if applicable:
800
Phone contract/s per month and number of contracts:
100
Internet per month:
60
Rego per year and details of vehicles:
900 - Hilux Ute
Car Insurance/s per year and details of vehicles:
900
Steaming services per month and details:
10 stan
10britbox
15 netflix
Food shop per week and where do you shop?
200-$250 mix aldi coles, woolworths
Take aways/eating out cost per week:
50
”Where do you live including State?
Karen, September 2024
Belmont, Vic
Who is in your family?
Me, 2 kids (16 and 12)
Move date:
Feb 2023
Rent (per week):
$430 (was $420 in 2023)
Home Insurance (per year):
Contents insurance $50
Electricity per year:
Approx $1500
Gas per year:
Approx $500
Water per year if applicable:
$300
Phone contract/s per month and number of contracts:
X3 payg Aldi sims. 2 at $25 and 1 at $20
Internet per month:
$80
Rego per year and details of vehicles:
X1 5 seater 1.4l petrol vehicle. $850
Car Insurance/s per year and details of vehicles:
$1200 fully comp
Health Insurance per year:
Medicare
Steaming services per month and details:
Netflix $8 (lowest subscription)
Amazon prime $10
Disney $14
Food shop per week and where do you shop?
Approx $250, Aldi and Cole’s
Take aways/eating out cost per week:
Mainly coffee now! 😄 Have been trying to cut down but was spending approx $300 a month on coffee, maccas and other odd treats.
Any school costs per year and who for:
Usual things like odd days out etc, differed per child and per year.
Grocery Shops
”Shopping
Brodie
Our basic food shopping for a family of 5, 2 Adult 3 young kids averages about $350 dollars every 2 weeks. This can vary but gives a good indicator for what to aim for as food here is a lot more expansive than the UK especially at the minute after covid. Some examples of food are (as of the 18/6/2022 based on woolies):
Bread Tip Top The One White 700g - $3.70
Butter (Table Spread) 1kg - $2.45
Milk green top 3l - $5.35
Eggs 12case 700g - $5.30
Beer Emu 375ml x 30 case - $56.00
Wine White Yellow Tail 750ml – $10.00
Chicken 1.1kg - $14.30
Mince Meat 1kg - $13.00
Bananas 750g - $3.90
Strawberries 250g - $6.50
Nappies size 6 little ones pull ups 40 pack - $11.50
Baby Wipes 480 pack - $10.00
Dog Food pedigree dog food 8kg - $25.00
Toilet roll 24 pack - $ 12.60
”For a family of 4 (2 adults and and two boys (12 and 10), we spend around $350 per week on food. This is split over Aldi and Woolworths. We cook most food we eat, and don't really eat out too much and like to each well. Aldi isn't the same as the UK, but over the 3 years we have been here its gotten better. The chocolate from there is from Germany and Belgium and beats any Australian chocolate!
Lisa
”We shop at the market for our fresh goods, and the Supermarket for our other ambient bits. We shop maybe 2/3 times a week - in total throughout the week must add up to about $200-$250 for 2 of us. But we buy A LOT of fruits and vegetables, and buy organic where we can.
Deanna, 2024, living in Melbourne CBD
”1 x adult, 2 x children - approx $250, Aldi and Cole’s
Karen, September 2024
”200-$250 a week, between Aldi, Coles and Woolworths for 2 x adults and an 8-month old.
Cai, September 2024
Other
”Cost of living - (a quick snapshot to give you an idea)
Amanda
Home loan - much higher than UK (however, we do have a bigger house and pool)
Shopping (food) - about the same as UK
Clothing - can be cheaper than the UK
Furniture - similar or as above, can be cheaper
Fuel - about half the cost of the UK
Rates - again higher than council tax (bigger house)
Electricity - same (then we installed solar so much less)
Health Insurance - don't have to pay in UK so an added expense (you can survive on Medicare, publicly funded health care insurance in which UK has a reciprocal agreement in place)
If no healthcare then Ambulance cover is required - again an added expense
Insurances - I'm sure they are similar to the UK
”Incomings -
Amanda
Husband's wages - similar to the UK (he is a fitter supervisor)
Mine - much higher than the UK (Project Manager in State Government)
Hope this helps a little, as we were under the impression, everything costs more before we moved over and as above indicates, it certainly doesn't!
”The sun and UV here are so strong. Don't bother with anything below factor 50, use mozzie repelant too and seek shade! It's not the UK.
Jade
”Take aways/eating out cost per week: For 2 of us, we spend about $60-$80 on a takeaway or meal out. $60 is the cheapest as generally meals costs around $20 something each, plus drinks. We don’t eat out very much!
Other costs: Coffee is $4.50-$6 depending on the spot and the size. Their small size is VERY small. A large cup is what I would say is a medium cup, so you get much less drink.
Travel around Melbourne on public transport is capped at $10 a day, no matter the distance or how many journeys. Or the tram is free in the CBD.
I got a half leg wax, and that cost me $40. My partner had his haircut and that cost $60. It’s expensive the get your hair cut or have treatments done!
My partner bought a 10x 440ml cider pack of Somersby for $32.
Deanna, 2024
