Comments on Florida Girl in Sydney: Australian Prices vs. American Prices

Wow, so true, prices here are shocking! I bought ...

2011-07-04T07:37:53.633+10:00

Wow, so true, prices here are shocking! I bought all the kids Christmas toys from the US - even with shipping, very reasonable. We'll have to try the goggles they look like they're good ones. Any suggestions for flippers?

This is insane...I would love to compare salaries ...

2011-06-28T20:10:16.387+10:00

This is insane...I would love to compare salaries in Australia vs salaries in US. This will help me with the standard of living perspective.

Kindle for Sale|Next Generation iPad|New Balance Toning Shoes

Anjita & Melbourne Megan- It's still shoc...

2011-06-27T23:44:49.028+10:00

Anjita & Melbourne Megan- It's still shocking to see prices here! And it's been 4 years now!

Wow, I hear ya! Moved to Melbourne from Jersey 3 ...

2011-06-21T21:05:12.845+10:00

Wow, I hear ya! Moved to Melbourne from Jersey 3 months ago and just trying to wrap my brain around the price differences. $50 for a $25USD travel guide to New Zealand! Ugh.

Wow a very good price comparison. I was at one poi...

2011-06-21T05:33:33.515+10:00

Wow a very good price comparison. I was at one point (few years back) discussing the option to move to Australia. I guess, I better rethink :). If I were to do a price comparison from India to US, I think US will turn out to be more expensive, except for in health care as well.

2011-05-27T23:55:57.502+10:00

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Yes! www.bookdepository.com.uk is exactly the webs...

2011-05-27T23:17:44.053+10:00

Yes! www.bookdepository.com.uk is exactly the website I was thinking of! And I going to remember that site for the 220v appliances...very good to know.

2lilpacks - that's an interesting comparison though I don't think you can do a 'one size fits all' comparison like that since the states are different in terms of taxes (We have no state income tax where I live but a high sales tax) and I live in the South where it's a fairly low cost of living in terms of housing. Our house in Nashville would easily cost over a million in a city in Australia and it's not a huge house. That's 5x more than what we paid here. And cars. Oh my word, cars are expensive there. Not to mention makeup, diapers, good quality clothes...we go every year to visit family and I am always shocked. I really don't think the salary would make up for it. Will have to look at old pay stubs/deductions from Oz and compare.

Steck- I feel your pain. And I must admit, I get a...

2011-05-24T16:56:20.799+10:00

Steck- I feel your pain. And I must admit, I get a little disappointed when I hear from you and there is no one liner...

I paid A$20 for a chicken club sandwich last weeke...

2011-05-24T07:11:06.505+10:00

I paid A$20 for a chicken club sandwich last weekend. OK, it came with fries and they even had Heinz Ketchup. But still, just ridiculous.

Taskers- Well unfortunately I totally missed the b...

2011-05-23T18:07:50.925+10:00

Taskers- Well unfortunately I totally missed the boat on the 220v appliances at US prices!!! Darn, but very good to know!

Unbelievably the cost of living increase in Perth ...

2011-05-23T15:49:51.778+10:00

Unbelievably the cost of living increase in Perth was 30% and we were only gone 2 1/2 years. I still cry at the grocery store, and have gone back to my hubby bringing back suitcases of food from his 6-monthly trips the States. My grandmother laughs that I send him to Trader Joes to pick up whole wheat pasta - but when I explained to her that its half the price and doesn't taste like cardboard she gets it.

Oh, and we ran out of Goldfish - crisis in this house!!!!

I think one of the commenters is thinking of bookdepository.co.uk for cheap books (and shipped free anywhere in the world).

And as for 220V appliances - if you look at eastwestintl.com you can buy ANY 220V appliance in the US and send it overseas (yourself) or in a shipping container. They are based in Houston, so I was lucky and went to the actual store, but if you email them thru the website, he'll give you a price plus the shipping to a location in the US. I bought my 220V Empire Red KitchenAid Mixer thru him for $275USD - works a charm. Kicking myself for not buying the Food Processor at the same time.

And if you take it out of the country, you can send in your ticket/boarding pass or shipping slip and he'll reimburse you your US tax!

ulie- Yes, that's correct. I use Amazon Prime ...

2011-05-21T23:31:18.712+10:00

ulie- Yes, that's correct. I use Amazon Prime to ship things for free to my mom, then she ships me a big box of stuff. And I cannot believe you can have a 110 outlet installed-- that is amazing!

2lilpacks- Housing, and everything in general, is much more expensive in Australia. I'd say for us personally, the higher income still does not outweigh the higher cost -- not by a longshot.

Akrozen- How could I have forgotten to mention my lip gloss? Revlon lip gloss $6.99 in US, $25-29 in Sydney.. and they actually sell it at David Jones! (a department store for my yanks).

2011-05-21T17:34:33.369+10:00

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My favorite comparison: Mascara. $4.99 at Walmart...

2011-05-21T12:07:41.280+10:00

My favorite comparison: Mascara. $4.99 at Walmart in the states - $19.99 here for the same product. Kills me.

But, I still think we come out ahead here money-wise even though things seem so insanely expensive!

Actually, if you break down the US salary - we'...

2011-05-21T10:03:48.270+10:00

Actually, if you break down the US salary - we're more expensive. :)

Bob in Oz does it here:

http://www.bobinoz.com/blog/5972/the-cost-of-living-australia-and-the-us-compared/

We work endlessly here and things "seem" cheaper - but at the end of the economic day, they really aren't...

Oh, and states are closing schools, laying of teachers, and you have to pay to even ride the school bus now.

So, We'll see you guys in Sydney!

Yes, Aussie prices are insane. I have friends who...

2011-05-20T12:35:33.179+10:00

Yes, Aussie prices are insane. I have friends who buy books from Amazon to ship to Australia and it's still cheaper, with shipping, than books new in Oz. My SIL actually found a great mob to get books from...I'll have to remember what they were called.

But, question...do you just have Amazon prime for free shipping within the states? And then your Mom mails it to you in Australia? Just making sure I'm understanding that correctly.

Also, you can get an electrician in Australia to actually put in a 110v outlet in your house for American appliances. I can't remember where I found this out, but I was thinking if we ever moved back, I might do this just for my kitchen aid mixer. :)

C in Oz- totally, but I guess the good news it mak...

2011-05-20T09:12:50.242+10:00

C in Oz- totally, but I guess the good news it makes everything look really cheap back in America? Is that even good news?

Rads- most groceries are significantly more expens...

2011-05-20T09:07:34.523+10:00

Rads- most groceries are significantly more expensive here, and most stores usually have one or two brands of peanut butter-- but about 5 varieties of vegemite-type spreads.

How strange is it that an $18 hamburger sounds rea...

2011-05-20T09:05:11.165+10:00

How strange is it that an $18 hamburger sounds reasonable? I've been here a year and I can't believe how much I've adjusted to the prices. When we first arrived, I wanted to cry every time we went to the grocery store. I used to walk out in a huff without buying anything and then have to go back later since I still actually needed to buy food. :-)

Shoes definitely get me, too! My running shoes cost $275 AUD and $100 USD.

I've never used a mixer before in my life. ...

2011-05-20T02:27:34.143+10:00

I've never used a mixer before in my life.

Is the food more expensive in Australia? Can you find peanut butter?

Marvin- That would not be surprising. Jan- I know...

2011-05-19T23:01:11.516+10:00

Marvin- That would not be surprising.

Jan- I know! It's ridiculous.

Jennie- Yep, me too. I love amazon prime.

Yikes, looks like I'll be continuing to order ...

2011-05-19T21:49:03.375+10:00

Yikes, looks like I'll be continuing to order things online in the US and have my mom send them to me like I already do in France. Prices here are ridiculously high too, plus salaries are depressingly low.

Stop making me cry!!! Same with the cost of flight...

2011-05-19T20:41:28.341+10:00

Stop making me cry!!! Same with the cost of flight from the US...compare to flying to the US with the same carriers!!!

2011-05-19T20:40:22.423+10:00

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My coworkers tell me that prices are similarly ast...

2011-05-19T20:35:55.584+10:00

My coworkers tell me that prices are similarly astronomical in the UK. Maybe it's a Commonwealth malaise.