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
Mortgage- $1937 per month
Gas- $70 per quarter
Electricity $350 per quarter
Water $170 per quarter
Netflix $14
Stan $14
Binge $12
Spotify $12
Petrol is between $1.65 and $2.00 per liter
Food $100 per week
Tullie
Rates
Electricity
Gas
Costs based on a couple living in Melbourne CBD.
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.
Deanna
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, living in Melbourne CBD
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
