hi all - one of the things i was desparate to know before we came is what would it cost to live there - so for those of you still waiting and list making and calculating etc here is what it costs per month - some of these bills are paid paid weekly or quarterly but i have converted them to monthly so you get an idea of what you need to live on!

Broad band -unlimited - 65
foxtel/sky basic 75
phone 150 (i probably ring uk too much :sigh: )
water 60
Car ins 40
Rego 220 (car rego is high - but petrol cheap)
electric 130
House ins 70 (i think this might go up when i get round to itemising everything)
Emergency service levy 10
Rates 100
Pest spray (house) 20
Food 1000
dog (vets etc) 50
petrol 250 (one car $65 per week)


Total $2,240 (i think :loopy: )


course it varies depending on your lifestyles but it is just a guide

we went for pub lunch yesterday ---five adults - $36!!!! excellent!


jax

Hi, why are you spending so much on phone. If you have broadband why don't you get SKYPE? It's free to other broadband users and you can buy skype out time to phone land lines through your PC. PM me if with your email address if you want details.

Louise

..or one of the phonecards like Go Talk. Much cheaper than using the normal phone. There's some listings in faq or links if I remember rightly. I think ours works out about a dollar an hour.

The ones I can remember are:

Electric - a whopping $160 per month (we had heating on full time when we got here and now it's the cooling!) but then our water, cooking, air etc are all powered by electric

Gas $minimal - gas hob only

Household contents ins $90 per month (this was the first quote we got when we arrived, from SGIC and we could reduce this significantly next year).

Petrol $100 per month (we walk and cycle most places)

Vet bills $200 per month at the moment - the cat is allergic to all things Australian it would seem.

Groceries (excl alcohol) $350 per month

Unlimited download broadband/home phone $120 per month (excl. UK calls)

+ rent
+ going out
+ prescriptions
+ dentist
+ optician
+ clothing

Aargh. Wish I hadn't thought about it now!

hi
unfortunately we can't use skype as our computer is apple mac and not compatible - along with a camera for msn, amongst a million other things that apple mac 'don't do' - don't get me started!!!

thanks for info re- phone cards i will look into that - i had a feeling i was paying far too much!

thanks all
jax

Hi Jax

Firstly, I loved your post - didn't mean to dive in with a negative as for me starting the process your figures were very useful. Secondly, we use skype on a Mac (knw what you mean about some things Macs won't do. Maybe they've upgraded since you last tried? We use Skype to phone hubbies mum in Spain.

Louise

jax
My friend in Hallett Cove gets a "talk tomato"( i think) card she says it works out to about 1/2 cent per minute,$20 has lasted her ages, she is on the phone to me for an hour at a time, and her family more than that. I have " Toucan Tele" here and that is 3p a min to Oz and it is definatly cheaper for her to me than the other way round.
sarah :happy45:
forgot to say, that was a good breakdown or costs It helps to read these things,thanks for that

quote 'Rego 220 (car rego is high - but petrol cheap)'

Wot is Car Rego? $2640 per year, sounds alot! Is it like the UK car Tax?
If so how much is petrol/diesel per litre approx?

Excuse the ignorance.

G

ditto seagulls, Ive not heard of that, especialy $2000+ enlighten us someone??

I don't believe that figure of $2640 a year relates to car rego and insurance. After reading Jax's original thread I think it was mean't to be a total of everything but it could well be incorrect on that score to as Jax intimated when posting it.

Registration is like road tax in the UK but with Compulsory Third Party Bodily injury included and Jax quoted about $220 for that but I think that would be only 6 monthly mine is double that for 12 months. You would have additional costs ontop of this for Comprehensive insurance, mine on a small 4 cylinder costs about $400 a year.

Fuel at the moment is fluctuating wildly between about $1.15 - $1.30 per litre

Hope that explains things a little better.

There is more detailed information in FAQ on the cost of living.

Jet :)

This may be worth looking at Jax.....

http://www.skype.com/products/skype/macosx/

re-rego ours cost 1,300 for six months!!!!

also worth a mention that fixed penalty for speeding :sigh: $163

jax

if anyone else would like to add their living costs to this thread, I will move it to FAQ Money alongside the last 2 years' similar threads, to keep the information up to date :cool shake:

That should please Ves!!!!

I reckon gotalk works out at 30 cents per hour if you buy in blocks of $30

Sheila

mine lasts ages and I use it often