Cost of Living Around the World

What does it cost to live in London versus, say, Sydney, Australia? 

I've just been curious about this because New York's a joke when it comes to this and I get burnt whenever I need to pay rent or utilities. 

In Brooklyn, you pay about $900/month for a decent 1 bedroom with a bathroom and living room. Any less and you're on the border of living in a rat hole. $2500+ if you're looking for something much better. Then factor in the drinking budget.

Sorry to say but you are looking at $900-1200 a month in Calgary for a one bedroom depending on the neighbourhood.
Course most of the swankier higher ebd neighbourhoods are now underwater...

Can't speak for Down Under, but I'll give you the low-down on London. The boroughs with the cheapest council tax are Westminster (£680.74 per year for a D Band property) and Wandsworth (£685.71 likewise) - though if you're a student you won't need to pay. For a 1 bedroom apartment you should expect to pay around £75-100 per month on electricity and water depending on usage, less during summer. though prices vary with energy providers (see Energy Helpline for comparisons). Transport is bloody expensive round here, so get an Oyster Card to save a huge amount.

£3.80/4.00 for a pint of lager in a pub, £5.00/6.00 for Single Malts, £5.00 for a glass of wine - on average of course. Prices will be steeper in in the West End than in my 'hood (South Hackney).

I'll post more on the rental cost of apartments later, though I recommend sharing with a flatmate.

z

Largo's Shark wrote:

The boroughs with the cheapest council tax are Westminster (£680.74 per year for a D Band property) and Wandsworth (£685.71 likewise) - though if you're a student you won't need to pay.

What do you mean by that? Students get free housing, or do they do it the old-fashioned way and ask mommy and daddy?

http://www.news.com.au/money/cost-of-living/sydney-worlds-third-most-expensive-city/story-fnagkbpv-1226570220558

Quote :

AUSTRALIAN cities are some of the most expensive in the world to live in, with a new report ranking Sydney third behind Japan's Tokyo and Osaka.

It's really quite lovely here.

The rents in Sydney are re-dic (I should know, I used to work as a leasing agent). A non-shithouse one bedroom apartment (i.e. something ancient, but not termite-infested and mould-draped) in a non-shithouse part of Sydney (i.e. within 30 minutes of the CBD, minimal shootings) will probably set you back $500 a week at least.

NIMBYs and Big Government have basically priced Gen Y out of the housing market.

I'm glad you brough up alcohol, Control, as getting shitfaced in Sydney will also burn a hole in your wallet. A "cheap" bottle of vodka that doesn't look like it came out of a bathtub will cost you $50. In other parts of Australia, like the Gold Coast, for example, the same bottle would probably cost $30-35.

Control wrote:

Largo's Shark wrote:

The boroughs with the cheapest council tax are Westminster (£680.74 per year for a D Band property) and Wandsworth (£685.71 likewise) - though if you're a student you won't need to pay.

What do you mean by that? Students get free housing, or do they do it the old-fashioned way and ask mommy and daddy?

No council tax. They still have to pay rent and utility bills - which is partly what the student loan's meant for.

India is more expensive than Ecuador. Dubai is more expensive than India. The US is more expensive than Dubai. England is more expensive than the US. Spain is more expensive than England. France is more expensive than Spain.

And there you have it. The world financial situation as illustrated by my life. You're welcome.

So Brandon should move to Ecuador?

z

Santa is just a pseudonym for John Travolta. I found out the hard way.

Canberra, Australia, probably the only place in the world where you can easily make $60,000 a year as a waiter/bartender without tips, qualifications and with nothing being paid under the table.

You'd be looking at anything from $125-500 a week in rent before utilities, internet though, depending on your approach to roommates.

The cost of living in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the other major Australian cities is ridiculous. Pretty sure a recent survey said it was more expensive than Paris, London etc. Comporable with NY.

CJB wrote:

http://www.news.com.au/money/cost-of-living/sydney-worlds-third-most-expensive-city/story-fnagkbpv-1226570220558

Quote :

AUSTRALIAN cities are some of the most expensive in the world to live in, with a new report ranking Sydney third behind Japan's Tokyo and Osaka.

It's really quite lovely here.

The rents in Sydney are re-dic (I should know, I used to work as a leasing agent). A non-shithouse one bedroom apartment (i.e. something ancient, but not termite-infested and mould-draped) in a non-shithouse part of Sydney (i.e. within 30 minutes of the CBD, minimal shootings) will probably set you back $500 a week at least.

NIMBYs and Big Government have basically priced Gen Y out of the housing market.

I'm glad you brough up alcohol, Control, as getting shitfaced in Sydney will also burn a hole in your wallet. A "cheap" bottle of vodka that doesn't look like it came out of a bathtub will cost you $50. In other parts of Australia, like the Gold Coast, for example, the same bottle would probably cost $30-35.

The lesson I learnt about getting around in Sydney is to find rich friends.