Moving to Australia from US

Don't forget to through some shrimps on the barby mate.

I can't comment on rent in Sydney/Melbourne - we have representatives from those two cities here, though - so hopefully they will turn up. Sydney will be more expensive.

Of course we have pre-schools!

Dog-friendliness will cut down your rental possibilities - and your dogs will have to spend, I think, 60 days in quarantine (but check on the sites I give below re this) - so you probably need to re-think bringing them. Two dogs are probably less desirable than one. I don't mean you have no chance - but it WILL make it more difficult. Do you have landlord references re the dogs?

A consumer's website re bringing dog sinto Oz from the US:

http://www.geocities.com/bluegracepwd/importing.html

More official site:
http://www.australien-ausbildung.com/australia/australia_immigration_australian_customs_quarantine.html

The official site:

http://www.australia.gov.au/index.php?242

This is the url for the Australia forum - where there are already a number of threads which will be relevant to you:

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=52

You should be able to find something for your estimated rental - but where?

And dog friendly?

I can speak only for Sydney. If you know where your husband's office is, I may be able to make more cogent suggestions. Sydney is a hugely spread-out city of 4 million or so - so location at least on the same side of the city as his office may be a good idea.

Feel free to ask more questions.

Moving to Sydney?
Hi,

Got some more specific info about this job since the last time I posted. Main office would be in Sydney, so most of time would be spent there, with occasional trips to Melbourne. Don't know exactly where in Sydney yet, but we wouldn't want to be in the city itself--been there, done that in the US and don't want to repeat it. We'd love to be somewhere where we'd have neighbors but not too close. Near the ocean would be great, but not essential. Would need four bedrooms and would love a pool. Husband would be making $80,000 US base salary, and from what I understand we'd be required to pay Australian taxes. Have heard the rate is 45%--is that correct? Since we would no longer have insurance premiums removed from Hubby's check, I think this would balance out the additional taxes. What is sales tax like there? If we would be required to use the national health insurance what is it like? With two small children we'd want to have decent coverage. Would we be able to afford a decent furnished home at this salary level, outside the city but still within commuting distance? What is public transport like there? Is that a possibility from the suburbs? Also, have heard that Aussies don't like Americans much. Not that anyone likes us much at this point, but is that true? Any and all advice appreciated! We're coming to the point where we need to make a decision here.

Melanie

Location in Sydney
OK,

I believe this is the address of the corporate office from which he would work most of the time:

55 Mountain Street, Ultimo NSW 2007

Does that make sense to you, because it means nothing to me!

Again, ideally we'd like to be outside of the city yet within commuting distance, whether by public transport or car.


Help!

"If we would be required to use the national health insurance what is it like? "

I believe you will find that our national health system, Medicare, will not be available to you - as there is no reciprocal system in the USA with which there can be an agreement. This means you MUST TAKE OUT PRIVATE COVER!

Private cover is quite expensive. Are you sure this would not be part of your husband's package?

Medicare is a large provider - there are numerous others...

http://www.property.com.au/

Go to the link above. I'm sure you will find a suitable home.

Ultimo is a suburb on the fringe of the Central Business District, served by both buses and trains (Central Station is a short walk).

It's also near Chinatown, and some theatres and the Entertainment Centre.

I'm not entirely sure about what that income shakes down to be after taxes and health insurance (but it's more than I earn!)

Because of the (reasonably) central location, pretty much all areas of Sydney are available to you.

A 4-bedroom house with pool and some land - the North Shore or Sutherland railway lines, maybe.

Look at Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, up to Hornsby, and then say Hurstville, Como, Sutherland, etc, down south.

Have a look at domain.com.au to give some idea of rentals.

Car commuting to this area is a nightmare, and, unless your husband has parking as part of his package, don't even consider it.

Tax - 45% is about right - I think that's the top rate. All products have a 10% Goods and Services Tax, but this is required to be included in the price of the goods, not added on later, as in some places in US.

Health insurance. I perused Medibank Private <click>, and the cost of health cover for a family seems to be about $5000/year

US$80,000 is approx A$114,000 at current exchange rates. A single person with a taxable income of this amount will pay $39,000 approx in 04/05. Usually gross income exceeds taxable income. Margo is on the ball with health insurance and you need not worry about hidden taxes (quoted price is the price by law). Also tipping is voluntary and in many places frowned upon.

I detect a degree of anxiety in your posts. Don't worry, we won't bite and our insects, spiders and reptiles rarely do, despite popular myth. Australians, even those who despise America, will welcome you as people. I think you will be pleased with the familiar, there will be much of it, and delighted by the new.

Good Luck.

Yikes...I thought US taxes were high! I did find out that we will be provided with full health coverage, however. Private coverage, from what I understand, and not national health coverage. Thank you so much for your suggestions, and also for the reassurance. This seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity to live someplace extraordinary. I've always dreamt of visiting Australia--never mind living there! I'll start looking for rentals in the areas suggested right away.

Melanie

Re: Moving to Australia from US


My brother lives in a Suburb called Botany its not an extremely expensive area but its is a rather costly place to live compared to the cheaper suburbs where i live. we pay about AU$250 a week so about AU$1000 a month he pays $500 a week about $2000 i think that with a budget of $3000-$3500 is a very feasible price range to live in a good family-oriented suburb