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Cost of living in Brisbane

1811

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 15:26

Can anyone tell me how much you'd need to be earning in Brisbane to live comfortably. I know this is a difficult question as everyone's lifestyles varies but I'm thinking of a lifestyle similar to here; private education for 2 kids, 2 nice cars, nice house, regular holidays, dinners out etc.

I've asked friends and family and looked in the papers at salaries being offered for what would be considered well paid jobs. Expectations seem to vary a lot from 60K to 100K.

I'd really appreciate your feedback, thanks.

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304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 17:45

To do all the things the op wants to do then $150k would be the absolute bare minimum. Even then I think you might need to compromise on some things. I think with the carbon tax coming in it is going to be more and more expensive to live in Australia sadly.

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:44

Thanks for your replies even though they are depressing me a bit!:-) I found it really hard to leave this time and come back here so we were hoping we could move back to Brisbane maybe within the year but I'm not sure we can now. My brother is in Sydney and suggested it might suit dh more but housing is even more expensive there. The kids kept commenting on the high prices of bottled water and bars of choc as they are the prices they know:-) Someone in Australia is making a killing on imports as when you compare the price of say a bottle of Evian here and in Oz it's so much more there and with the the high dollar importers in Oz are getting a lot more Evian for their dollars than last year. Even taking transportation into account, the prices don't compare. Yeah, but you soon adapt. The water out of the tap here is just beautiful to drink. Buy glass bottles and keep it in your fridge. Save the environment and just fill your kids bottles out of the tap every day for school or let them drink straight from the bubblers. Chocolate you buy in a bulk pack once a week.

1811

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:40

Thanks for your replies even though they are depressing me a bit!:-) I found it really hard to leave this time and come back here so we were hoping we could move back to Brisbane maybe within the year but I'm not sure we can now. My brother is in Sydney and suggested it might suit dh more but housing is even more expensive there. The kids kept commenting on the high prices of bottled water and bars of choc as they are the prices they know:-) Someone in Australia is making a killing on imports as when you compare the price of say a bottle of Evian here and in Oz it's so much more there and with the the high dollar importers in Oz are getting a lot more Evian for their dollars than last year. Even taking transportation into account, the prices don't compare.

2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:30

Around 150,000 would be my opinion Reading your original list again AR, I agree with basil. 150K as an absolute minimum for all of the things you've listed. More if you will be paying off the nice cars, renting the nice house (rents are ridiculously high in any sought after areas and often the houses are dog boxes). Significantly more if you want more than camping trips for holidays and Macca's for your dining out. ;)

845

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:22

I too agree with the school bit. My sons all did the private school as I was an old Grammar girl but they really flourished when they attended a State school. Just make sure u live in an enchatchment area for a good school <em>edited by basil on 14/08/2011</em>

2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:21

We're on the Sunshine Coast, but comparing to friends in various parts of Brisbane, the cost of living is not very different. It's EXPENSIVE to live here now. I cannot believe how much cost of living skyrocketed in the five years we were away. My husband is on 'good' money but I will need to go back to full-time work next year so we can start making steps forward. No flash house or private school for us; homebrand groceries; never eat out; not sure where the money will come from for new clothes for the children as the weather warms up and they've all outgrown last summer's gear. I know many people do it somehow Amy, but I can't see how a family could live comfortably on 80K. :( That would [u'>almost[/u'> cover our rent, electricty, childcare, auto/contents/medical insurances, car maintenance, petrol.

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:13

Yes, the cost of living is high, but as you say, loads of things to do for free. Just being able to get out into the fresh air is fantastic. We had our kids in private school before we went to Dubai, but we live in a fairly decent area within a couple of km's of Brisbane city and have put them into the local state school since our return late last year. The kids are loving it. The eldest is due to start high school in 2012 and had places at both private and state school and we've decided to go with a state school with a number of Centres of Excellence.

845

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:12

Around 150,000 would be my opinion

1811

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 16:04

Thanks so much, that's really helpful. When we back to Brisbane we found the cost of living so high. I know that's partly due to the strength of the dollar but we realised we'd have to reassess how much we'd have to earn or take back with us. In Brisbane you can do more things free, like a walk in a national park but with petrol so expensive, you have to take motoring costs into consideration too. Thanks again.

95

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 15:45

Here are some websites to help you with your search, for a couple of kids in private schooling, plus all the other things you want, you'd want to earn at least $120k just to scrape by in my opinion. http://www.realestate.com.au/buy http://www.carsales.com.au/ http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/enrolments/fees http://admissions.churchie.com.au/content.cfm/School-Fees/541 http://woolworths.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/website/woolworths?s_kwcid=TC|15293|woolworths||S|p|14119850861

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