Australia: the expensive country (A traveller's dilemma)

[Ratchaburi]

KW there in a camper, OK but bthey could go there for a feed

[GuttaPercha]

This subject is close to my heart.

The last few years I've been doing 6 months in Oz and then 6 months in LOS.
The thing is I find that LOS is a lot more expensive than Oz.

But then there's a reason:

In Oz I have a shack in the bush with Solar Power, Rain water and wood heating. Grow my own veges and can shoot a rabbit if I'm real keen. So it costs me pretty much stuff-all to live there. I'm too far out of town to do much partying, and to be truthful I don't drink much these days. It knocks me around too much. Strangely I'm not bored in the bush what with my hobbies, my books and the Internet. Gets a bit lonely though sometimes.

On the other hand, when I go to LOS, I tend to live like a bloody millionaire. Nice pad, pretty girls, and big steaks with glasses of wine most nights. The last trip I added up all my ATM slips and it gave me a bloody fright.

So next trip to LOS I'm going to try (yet again) to live frugally. I can see why so many of my friends ended up broke in LOS.

But I have a feeling that living frugally in Thailand is going to be seriously boring.

I rather think that I'll end up back in OZ permanently. But I am going to give LOS one more try.

We shall see.

[MeMock]

I feel ya GuttaPercha. My house in Australia is paid for and I am out in the bush far away from the lure of a cafe for morning tea or lunch at the pub. I pay nothing for water or the internet so just power to worry about. My main expense is food (but I do have a wife and 3 kids).
I just got back from 3 months in Thailand and even though my house is also paid for there, I don't chase skirt and I do not support any family members I could not believe how much money we went through! Almost impossible I would of thought. I put it down to being on holiday and because everything is cheap we buy twice is much and live like kings on the food front and splash out on hotels and travel on the few short trips we did take.

[aging one]

Glad you had a good time mate. ^ I want to go to Australia with my family but find the costs way way more than the states, even California. I dont think we could afford it as a family of four with teenage girls. No more crammed into one room unless its the states at 40+square meter rooms plus two king beds. I just cant find that in planning ahead.

[Pragmatic]

Bloody whinging Aussies.

[mingmong]

just did a drive Darwin to Adelaide, 3000km approx. LPG $1.10 in Darwin 70c in Adelaide its only $1.05 South of Alice springs in the Dessert !!! the Pickup is dedicated LPG

Try living in Darwin or Dampier and you will come to appreciate Thailand more, where else can you go out with $3 for 2 meals

As stated its all relevant, but the Service is so good in Thailand too, Oz has lost that, take it or leave it Society

[Pragmatic]

If it's in the Daily Mail it has to be true.

Whingeing Aussies? Poll shows Brits are happier and more satisfied than Australians

Australians 'overtake Britons in the whingeing stakes' as poll shows we are happier and more satisfied | Mail Online

[9999]

Try living in Darwin or Dampier and you will come to appreciate Thailand more, where else can you go out with $3 for 2 meals

Hell yeah, the outback is different. Prices are at a premium for everything, and lots of cashed up mining workers about.

The best value is in NSW and QLD country towns, not to everyone's liking but I prefer them to the cities. $10 meals no problem. Beer is still <$5 a schooner. We're earning a lot more than we were 10 years ago.

[MeMock]

Darwin is my closest city (800kms away) so I know what you are talking about.

[mingmong]

Bloody whinging Aussies.

I still got me UK Passport! Prag.

after living here 50 years Ive decided to 'Go Ozzie' and stay in South Oz a while

[blue]

expensive?
just looking at a price website
Cost of Living in Perth and other Australian cities


'' Wine - red or white 4 Litre wine cask - 2 for $20 = $2.50 per litre ''

that's £13 .50 for EIGHT litres !!!

Very cheapest rubbish in Britain is £4 for a gay sized 0.75 litre, or extrapolated out for 8 litres =£48 quid .

STOP whinging now , just go Aboridgenie - don't worry about fuck all, get
2 boxes of wine and sit under nice shady tree listening to music on the radio.

[waradmiral]

Yeah he's talking inner-city trendy place prices. I was paying $4-5 at country pubs on my recent road trip for a schooner. $15 for a bloody good mean, can still get a decent feed for less then $10.

VB is about $14 for a 6-pack

Beer Chang about $22

chang is about $14 a six pack but you'd never buy that shit

dan murphy's sells good beers like boags, becks, crown for around $40-42 a case when on special

only dimwits buy 6 packs

it's cheaper to have a holiday in bali/thailand for 3 weeks includ airfare which is why the aust tourism economy is tanking a bit. a number of qld resort islands have gone broke.

[cheekyman]

it's cheaper to have a holiday in bali/thailand for 3 weeks includ airfare which is why the aust tourism economy is tanking a bit. a number of qld resort islands have gone broke.

Agreed - Australia is pricing itself out of the tourist market. Non realistic operators and the strong Aussie dollar IMO

[Ratchaburi]

The only reason the the Aussie dollar is so high, it the only country with a interest rate at

Central bank interest rate
AUD 3%
US 0.25%
GBP 0.5%
EUR 0.75%
JPY 0.1%
CHF 0.0%

So The Aussie sucker is paying for it

[cheekyman]

The only reason the the Aussie dollar is so high, it the only country with a interest rate at

Central bank interest rate
AUD 3%
US 0.25%
GBP 0.5%
EUR 0.75%
JPY 0.1%
CHF 0.0%

So The Aussie sucker is paying for it

Ahem - Macroeconomics not one of your strong points then?

[terry57]

Perth is seriously out of control price wise, if you do not have a decent job and are paying rent your pushing shit up hill.

I have no debt what so ever and if my Visa card comes in under 2K a month I'm estatic.

If you want to rent a decent unit your looking $350 minimum and houses start around $400 for anything decent and well placed.

Eating out is madness, last month I payed $15.50 for a premium pint of ale 8.5%.

Normal pints of shitty lager start at $10, if you want decent beer its more like $12.

Backpacker dorms for 12 stinky fuk ups are $30 per night or $180 per week.

Australia is the lucky country if you are minted if not your life is shit.

Move out in the middle of no where and prices are cheaper but life in the city is expensive.

I'm a city guy, fuk being isolated.

Everyone to there own innit.

[Ratchaburi]

Perth is seriously out of control price wise, if you do not have a decent job and are paying rent your pushing shit up hill.

I have no debt what so ever and if my Visa card comes in under 2K a month I'm estatic.

If you want to rent a decent unit your looking $350 minimum and houses start around $400 for anything decent and well placed.

Eating out is madness, last month I payed $15.50 for a premium pint of ale 8.5%.

Normal pints of shitty lager start at $10, if you want decent beer its more like $12.

Backpacker dorms for 12 stinky fuk ups are $30 per night or $180 per week.

Australia is the lucky country if you are minted if not your life is shit.

Move out in the middle of no where and prices are cheaper but life in the city is expensive.

I'm a city guy, fuk being isolated.

Everyone to there own innit.

Left there 10 years ago & don't think that I will be going back.

[flashbang]

Paying primo for the privealage of living in a police nanny state ... the excellent education system almost makes up for it.

[cheekyman]

Left there 10 years ago & don't think that I will be going back.

It may be worth reconsidering - My mate Tony will rule the roost in September - nice guy just has a lot of shit to sort out

[fireysteve]

Mean while on the East Coast of OZ, A schooner of beer at my local RSL $350.
A carton of Light beer $35, and $40 ish for full strength.
Food from super market is cheap and good quality.
I only go out for dinner once in a while as I admit its a rip off here, 2 dishes and rice at local Thai joint about $30.

[MeMock]

A schooner of beer at my local RSL $350.

Crikey! I'd hate to think what a pint would cost!

[kingwilly]

Crickey indeed!


Your mate wrote another excellent article in the Age about travelling and ANZAC Day.

[mingmong]

Prag! your arrse is looking good today..........

[Dandyhole]

A relative of mine with wife and 3 young kids 14, 12, and 8 is immigrating to Aus soon, better let them know what they are in for

[mingmong]

Adelaide the Factory's are closing, works going off shore, Main street of my Suburb is awash with Africans and Mid Eastern boat persons! in second hand suits

Locals are moving to West Oz, the place is a Welfare State, apart from that its cheap compared to the West and North, as some stated it Friendly and laid back, Im only here short time!