Australia, also known as Land Down Under, is an incredible island country both geographically and culturally. This giant country has everything to allure tourists and people living there. They boast mountains, canyons, waterfalls, rivers, deserts, parks, blissful beaches, adventure sports, and the list is endless. Australia also has some most beautiful and scenic cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth which have, amazing nightlife, food, employment opportunities, sightseeing places, and endless experiences.
If you are an expatriate or someone who has always dreamt of settling down in Australia, then this southernmost country is waiting to welcome you. But before actually planning your itinerary and packing your stuff from the USA to Australia, you should be aware of the Australian cost of living v/s the US. If you are interested in gaining a similar type of information, then you have landed in the right place. As here, we will be providing you with information about the same. So, without any further ado, let’s dig into this article.
Is Australia more expensive to live in than the US?
Yes, it is expensive to live in Australia than in the US. According to numbers, Australia is around 23.5% costlier than the US.
Given below is a table that shows how much you have to pay more for each head in Australia as compared to the US.
| HEADS | COST |
| Restaurants | Cost is 27.9% more in Australia |
| Groceries | Cost is 1.5% more in Australia |
| Housing | Cost is 7.9% less in Australia |
| Transport | Cost is 26.7% more in Australia |
| Childcare Services | Cost is 23.4% more in Australia |
| Sports & Entertainment | Cost is 55.1% more in Australia |
| Clothing | Cost is 38.1% more in Australia |
Hence if we talk about the cost of living in Australia vs the US then, Australia is expensive and costlier than the US.
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Are Things cheaper in America than in Australia?
Yes, of course, America is cheaper than Australia. According to a survey, Australia is the 12th country in the world with the highest cost of living, and America stands at the 21st position in this list. The US is ranked as the least expensive developed country in the world. Melbourne and Sydney are the most expensive countries in Australia and on the worldwide ranking, they stand at 71st and 42nd place respectively.
Given below is a comparison table of Cost of Living in Australia vs the US, for giving you the best insight and information about the same. So, keep reading below to know more!!
Table of Cost of Living in Australia in Major Cities
| PLACES | SINGLE PERSON (AUD) | FAMILY OF FOUR (AUD) |
| Sydney, New South Wales | $ 1,450 | $ 5,250 |
| Melbourne, Victoria | $ 1,300 | $ 4,650 |
| Brisbane, Queensland | $ 1,350 | $ 4,800 |
| Perth, Western Australia | $ 1,300 | $ 4,700 |
| Hobart, Tasmania | $ 1,250 | $ 4,400 |
| Adelaide, South Australia | $ 1,160 | $ 4,100 |
Cost of living under Different Heads
All the costs in the below mentioned tables drawn under various heads are average costs and are written according to the currency of respective countries. For your convenience, we would like to inform you about the current conversion rate of 1 USD into 1 AUD and the other way round.
1 USD= 1.47 AUD
1 AUD= 0.68 USD
Salary after tax
Different jobs in Australia pays different salaries. These jobs include; Legal Compliance Officer, Portfolio Manager at an It sector, Financial Officer, Head of an IT Department, Construction Manager, and Jobs in Healthcare Sector. Apart from these jobs, there are jobs in the unskilled sector too that pay a good sum of money as salaries, and for doing such jobs you do not need higher educational qualifications. These jobs are; Electrician, Project Manager, Fitness Instructor, Digital Manager, and others. The average net salary of an individual after-tax in Australia is AUD 40,000- 50,000. Whereas, the average net salary of an individual after-tax in the USA is USD 50,000- 55,000.
Rent
If you are coming from America and planning to settle down in Australia, then you should be aware of the house rent & the cost of utilities at both places. Go through the comparison table mentioned below to know more about the same:-
| HEADS | AUSTRALIA (AUD) | USA (USD) |
| Monthly Rent of a 900 sqft house at an expensive area | $ 3,200 | $ 2,376 |
| Monthly Rent of a 900 sqft house at a normal area | $ 2,248 | $1,782 |
| Utilities for 1 month for 2 persons in a 900 sqft flat | $ 216 | $ 190 |
| Monthly Rent of a 480 sqft house at an expensive area | $ 2,040 | $ 1,646 |
| Monthly Rent of a 480 sqft house at a normal area | $ 1,534 | $ 1,273 |
| Utilities for 1 month for 2 persons in a 480 sqft flat | $174 | $ 127 |
| Cost of 1 month of 8 MBPS Internet | $ 58 | $ 54 |
| Cost of 40” LCD | $ 540 | $ 277 |
| Cost of an 800/900-watt microwave | $199 | $ 129 |
The cost of living in Australia vs the US for transportation is mentioned in the comparative table given below.
Transport
| HEADS | AUSTRALIA (AUD) | USA (USD) |
| One-way ticket of a local transport | $ 4.40 | $ 2.20 |
| Monthly transport pass | $ 150.00 | $ 60.00 |
| Taxi at a normal tariff rate | $ 4.20 | $ 3.25 |
| Taxi for a distance of 1 mile | $ 3.46 | $ 2.60 |
| Taxi for 1 hour waiting | $ 51.00 | $ 30.00 |
| 1 gallon of gasoline | $ 5.55 | $ 2.65 |
| Volkswagen Golf or any equivalent car (1.4 90KW) | $ 28,000 | $ 23,195 |
Health
The citizens of Australia and the permanent residents of the country can access and enjoy healthcare services at no or little cost through Medicare. Medicare is serving people since 1984 and making healthcare services accessible for them. An individual has to pay 2% of their taxable income as the fund for the medicare system, and it covers almost all the medical expenses. Whereas, the private hospital policy costs around $2,00 every year excluding the extra costs worth $ 850 per year.
If talking about the cost of healthcare in the USA, then an individual has to pay $7,470 and a family has to pay $ 21,342 as the health insurance cost.
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Food
Food and water is the basic necessity for every human being, so here in the table given below we will be telling you about the Australian cost of living vs the US in terms of food:-
| HEADS | AUSTRALIA (AUD) | USA (USD) |
| Milk (1 gallon) | $ 6.33 | $ 4.61 |
| A loaf of Bread | $ 2.58 | $ 3.53 |
| Rice (white) | $ 1.24 | $ 2.53 |
| Eggs (Regular) | $ 4.78 | $ 3.25 |
| Potatoes (1lb) | $ 1.50 | $ 1.17 |
| Tomatoes (1lb) | $ 2.38 | $ 1.94 |
| Apples (1 lb) | $ 2.06 | $ 2.06 |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $ 4.93 | $ 4.22 |
| Cheese (1 lb) | $ 5.04 | $ 5.03 |
| Beef (1 lb) | $ 8.36 | $ 5.03 |
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) | $ 6.00 | $ 4.50 |
| Water (1.5 lt bottle) | $ 2.30 | $ 1.80 |
| Bottle of Wine | $ 15.00 | $ 12.00 |
| A meal in an inexpensive restaurant | $ 20.00 | $ 15.00 |
| Meal at a mid-range restaurant (2 people) | $ 95.00 | $ 60.00 |
| Regular Cappuccino | $ 4.52 | $ 4.35 |
Studies
For permanent residents and citizens of Australia, the cost of public schools is free. But as an expatriate parent then you have to spend a couple of hundred dollars on your child’s public school fee. If you plan to send your child to private institutions and universities for further studies, then a comparison table stating the cost of living in Australia vs the US for education is mentioned below.
| HEADS | AUSTRALIA (AUD) | USA (USD) |
| Private Institution Fees | $ 10,000 | $ 6,840 |
| Fees for an Undergraduate Degree | $ 20,000 – 48,000 | $ 15,000 – 33,000 |
| Fees for a Postgraduate Degree | $ 28,000 – 53,000 | $ 20,000 – 57,000 |
Entertainment
The cost of living in Australia vs the US for various entertainment activities are mentioned in the table below:-
| HEADS | AUSTRALIA (AUD) | USA (USD) |
| Fitness Club for 1 month (1 Person) | $ 66.53 | $ 37.12 |
| Rent of Tennis Court (1 Hour) | $ 20.25 | $ 15.65 |
| Movie Tickets (2 people) | $ 37 | $ 26 |
| Theatre Tickets (2 people) | $ 251 | $ 179 |
| 3 Course dinner at an expensive restaurant (2 people) | $ 93 | $ 78 |
| A Cocktail in a Downtown Club | $ 18 | $ 12 |
| Gym membership for 1 month (1person) | $ 71 | $ 50 |
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Pros & Cons of Living in Australia
After you have learned about the cost of living in the US vs Australia, we would also like to share some points of advantages and disadvantages of living in Australia that you should consider before actually moving into the country.
PROS:-
- High standards of living
- High-quality healthcare
- People here are friendly and has a welcoming nature
- The average annual salary is high
- Can enjoy watching unique and exotic wildlife
- Great climate with best sporting activities
- Best education system
- Getting citizenship is not a complicated process
CONS:-
- High prices of houses
- High cost of living
- This country is remote from the rest of the world so you may feel isolation anxiety & homesickness.
- Obtaining a work visa is an arduous task
- Academic fees are quite high
- The cost of health insurance is high
- Lack of activities in small Aussie towns
How is life in Australia?
Australians live a high quality of life. Cities of Australia like Melbourne & Sydney rank in the top ten globally in terms of liveability. The people here are friendly, helpful, and have varied cultures. Most people here are visitors & foreigners, and they enjoy recreational activities, blissful beaches, delicious foods, city life, etc. This is indeed an expensive country where you need a good salary to survive and enjoy yourself.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Australia?
- Some highest paying jobs in Australia are:-
| JOBS | SALARY(AUD) |
| Surgeon | $394,303 |
| Anesthetic | $ 386,065 |
| Medicine Specialist | $ 304,752 |
| Financial Dealer | $ 275,984 |
| Psychiatrist | $ 235,558 |
| Legal professionals | $ 188,798 |
| Mining Engineer | $ 184,507 |
| CEO | $ 164,849 |
| Quantitative Analyst | $ 153,539 |
| Software Engineer | $ 138,933 |
How do you get citizenship in Australia?
For gaining citizenship in Australia, you have to fulfill certain norms, such as:-
- You should be above 16 years of age.
- Must be a permanent resident in Australia for four years.
- You should have lived in Australia for four years, including living for 12 months as a permanent resident.
- You should have a good character and should be aware of the duties & responsibilities of a citizen.
Conclusion
Dear readers, we hope that from the above discussed descriptive article you must have understood the aspects of the cost of living in Australia vs the US under different heads and the pros & cons of living and settling down in Australia. We have also answered some of the common FAQs to clear your doubts. If you are satisfied with all the details and are excited to move to the marvelous country of Australia, then what are you waiting for now? Start packing your stuff today, plan your itinerary and enjoy your life in the beautiful Land Down Under.
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