Cost of living figures

[Ric&Martha]

Originally Posted by kaz101

I doubt that you'll get all that list (there are some things even I wouldn't do even if I lived in the area ). If you look at Dolly's post that has a lot of costs and she's close to Melbourne.

You can find out most of those prices if you use google.com.au and have a scavenger hunt

Regards,
Karen

Greetings All!

I've just returned from a impromptu trip to Melbourne and Sydney at the expense of my new boss. I took the opportunity to go on a price scavenger hunt in the Melbourne area. I have most of the prices I was seeking--quite a difference in cost of living from what we're used to in southwest Virginia. But it is what it is! We'll make do.

I very much enjoyed Melbourne and had the pleasure of visiting a few of the Melbourne suburbs--Frankston area, Brighton-Ormond area, Oakleigh area, Glen Waverley area, Mont Albert-Surrey Hills area, and Ringwood area. Obviously we're interested in East and South East of Melbourne. As my father's family is from Nantucket Island, I've always had a passion for the sea--so I'm thinking we'll probably be heading toward Frankston-Mornington.

Dolly, Karen and sgilli3, thank you for your responses, information and encouragement!

-Ric, for Martha & the kids

[Syed]

Hi Manzoor,

Don't worry about the PM thing. You can pop me an email on jazz7667@yahoo.com.

Regards,

Syed

Originally Posted by techman

Hi Syed,

Thanks for your response.
I'm in LA. Can you please PM me ?

Regards,
Manzoor.

[victoria&paul]

Following the above thread, would anyone hazard an estimate as to the cost of living compared to the UK, by way of a %.

We are a family of 4, and i have budgeted the follwong monthly headline figures for a three bed rented house in Brisbane:

Rent - $2000
Food - $1000
Gas,Elec - $125

After all expenses, working on $800-$900 for the family spending money??

Does this seem reasonable as ball park figures?

[Gail]

Here is a selection of food costs from our first week here. We have shopped mostly at Coles but also a Farmers market (very good) and Chinatown.

We live in central Sydney - so prices may seem quite high - well they do to me! Anything with a star on it is on special offer - I am a bargain hunter and no brand junkie, which is probably good as they are all different here. Sorry its not so easy to read but you can't seem to format the posts at all. If anyone whats a clearer copy let me know and I will post a link to a document.

Item Brand Weight/ Volume Cost ($AU)
Fruit and veg
Corn Cobs Coles 1 0.58*
Carrotts (fresh) Coles 1kg 1.98
Rockmelon Coles 1 1.5
Tomatoes (fresh) Coles 1kg 1.48
Apples Gala 1kg 3.98
Iceberg Lettuce Coles 1 1.98
Watermelon Coles 1kg 1.28
Brown Onions Coles 1kg 2.48
Bananas Coles 1kg 2.98
Minneola Coles 1kg 1.99
Asparagus Coles bunch 1.98
Pears Packhams 1kg 2.98
Mandarins Imperial 1kg 2.45
Apples Red Delicious 1kg 2.32

Storecupboard
Tuna in Water YLC 185g 2.55*
Ketchup Rosella 600ml 1.99
Tomato Paste Coles Saver 500g 1.29
Olive Oil Carpelli 500ml 3.49
tinned tomatoes farmland 400g 0.89
Cooking Oil Spray Farmland 400g 2.47
Soup Noodles single serving 0.57
Fettucine (dried) Coles 500g 0.99
Rice Cakes sunrice 150g 1.82
Eggs (Free Range) 1 dozen 6.25
Nam Plah (fish Sauce) Chinese supermarket 725ml 1.2
Chinese Cooking Wine Chinese supermarket 640ml 1.7
Chicken Stock powder Chinese supermarket 227g 3.5
Green Curry Paste Mae Ploy 400g 2.35
Sesame Oil 150ml 2
Soba Noodles 300g 1.4
Soup Noodles 1 serving 0.4
Wakame Seaweed (dried) 56g 3.2
Black Peppercorns 100g 2.1
Wheatabix Coles 1kg 2.67
Strawberry Jam St.Dalfour 284g 3.00*

Chiller
Butter Coles 250g 1.9
Ice Cream (low fat) Blue Ribbon 2l 3.99*
Iced Coffee Farmers union 600ml 3.49
Firm Tofu 600g 2.9
Mayonnaise (light) Praise 410g 2.99
Lite Cheese (Chedder Style) Coon 500g 6.89
Semi Skimmed Milk Coles 2l 2.69

Meat
Beef Mince Coles 1kg 6.53
Chicken Thighs (boned and skinned) Coles 1kg 10.33

Certainly if you like cooking Asian food head to a Chinatown if you can and hit a Chinese supermarket. The choice is fantastic and the prices very good. A good place to buy woks, steamers and cooking utensils too.

[UsmanArshad1]

Hii
any one living in OZ could help me to tell the rates of income tax . I have seen alots of web sites but still confused.

Some sites tell it as no tax till 6000$ but some sites do deduct 33% . please tell me exact figures and rates
regards

[sgilli3]

Originally Posted by UsmanArshad1

Hii
any one living in OZ could help me to tell the rates of income tax . I have seen alots of web sites but still confused.

Some sites tell it as no tax till 6000$ but some sites do deduct 33% . please tell me exact figures and rates
regards

Tax rates will vary for residents and non residents.
For residents (this does not include Medicare levy of 1.5%)

FOR TAX YEAR 2008/2009
$1 - $6000= NIL TAX
$6001 - $34,000 = 15c each $1 over $6,000
$34,001 - $80,000 = $4,200 +30c each $1 over $34,000
$80,001 - $180,000 = $18,000 + 40c each $1 over $80,000
$180,000 + over = $58,000 + 45c each $1 over $180,000

Tax offsets can reduce amount of tax payable, and each persons case will be different.

Have a look at Australian Taxation Office Homepage
This is the Australian Tax Office, which will give you rates to suit you (you can do a quick quiz to see approx rate of tax payable)

[UsmanArshad1]

thanks for the figuers .

Regards

[kaz101]

Originally Posted by UsmanArshad1

thanks for the figuers .

Regards

Hi UsmanArshad1,

I moved your other questions to a new thread since I want to keep this thread purely on the cost of living.

Regards,
Karen

[airwaves]

Hi,

Any feedback on clothes prices:
Men's pants
Shirts
Shoes
Women's clothes
Kid's clothes

What about daycare fees?

Thanks

[sgilli3]

Hi,For childcare fees, it will vary from establishment to establishment, and vary in prices from state to state.

these figures are from 2006, so you will need to add a little more to make them more realistic.

Raising Children Network | Child care costs and fees

For ideas on clothing prices look at theses links (prices will also vary from city to regional areas)

Target Australia
Welcome to BIG W
Kmart Home