Australia
Lifestyle
Do you have dreams of living in Australia? Known for its inviting culture, beautiful beaches, and sunny weather, many expats flock to make the Land Down Under their new home.
With its great weather, cosmopolitan cities, diverse natural landscapes, and relaxed lifestyle, it’s no wonder that Australia remains a top pick for expats.
Do you have dreams of living in Australia? Known for its inviting culture, beautiful beaches, and sunny weather, many expats flock to make the Land Down Under their new home.
With its great weather, cosmopolitan cities, diverse natural landscapes, and relaxed lifestyle, it’s no wonder that Australia remains a top pick for expats.
Cost of Living
The official currency of Australia is Australian dollar, which is written as A$ or AUD
Australia currently has the 16th highest cost of living in the world, with the USA and UK well behind at 21st and 33rd place respectively.
While life in Australia comes with a price tag, Mercer’s most recent survey, shows that Australian cities have dropped in the rankings, which is good news for companies relocating employees to the Asia-Pacific area.
Australia’s most expensive city, Sydney sits at 42 on the Mercer’s cost of living index. Melbourne is at the 99th place, Perth at 104th, Canberra on 118th, and Brisbane at 126th.
With expatriate hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo all sitting in the top ten, Australia is more appealing than ever.
Housing
Sydney tops the list with the median house price at A$1,142,212, while Adelaide has a more affordable median house price at A$542,947.
If you don’t necessarily want to live in one of the big cities, you could consider living in some of the smaller ones, where the prices are more affordable.
For those who are renting, once again location is everything. While a Sydney rental averages out at about A$2,649 per month for a 1-bedroom apartment, renting the same sized apartment in scenic Hobart will be half the price.
Shopping around will get a decent deal on utilities, but basics, including power, gas and internet for a standard two bedroom apartment will come to about A$350 a month.
Retirement
The Land Down Under makes for an appealing retirement destination, with its nautical culture, beautiful coastal areas and first-world amenities. But as with any overseas retirement, there are some details you need to be aware of, from the cost of living to medical care options to immigration laws.
The Investor Retirement visa (subclass 405) is available to self-funded retirees who do not have any dependents and want to retire in Australia. This visa is a temporary visa and allows holders to remain in and travel freely to and from Australia for four years. After the visa expires, visa holders must renew the visa. It also entitles a partner to be in Australia with you.