[LotusRIP]

Hey guys,

Calling all brits here. I'm from Australia and looking to move to the UK for a couple of years - with the potential of indefinite if I desire (ancestry...)

Anyways, I was just wondering about the cost of living in general. I've been to London and things didn't seem quite as expensive as people always make it out to be in the media. Some things were actually cheaper, although some things (especially eating at restaraunts) were a little overpriced. But I'm talking Rent, Bills, Electricity, etc. What's it like in comparison to Australia? Would it be a worthwhile decision to make?

Currently I make $600 a week (take home/after tax). I spend $200~ per week on rent and all bills combined, as I live with my fiance so it's all halved. This leaves me with roughly $400 per week of disposable income in AU dollars. How would this compare to UK standards of living?

Let me know your thoughts on this, any tips and advice welcome!

PS. You have to take into consideration that I'm trying to get into writing music for film/TV, and there's almost no business for it in Australia, so either the UK or America is my ticket to success in this area. If it wasn't for my passion for this profession, I probably wouldn't consider it as much as I am.

[Jay]

QUOTE (LotusRIP @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 16:33)

I'm from Australia and looking to move to the UK

Road less traveled, ey?

I read recently about the movie studio that produced films such as Aliens recently shut up shop. I don't know if the movie industry in Blighty is much better than down here.

[nightwalker83]

QUOTE (LotusRIP @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 17:33)

PS. You have to take into consideration that I'm trying to get into writing music for film/TV, and there's almost no business for it in Australia, so either the UK or America is my ticket to success in this area. If it wasn't for my passion for this profession, I probably wouldn't consider it as much as I am.

Maybe when you make it big in the industry you could move back and make the Australian Film/TV industry more sucessful.

[finn4life]

QUOTE (nightwalker83 @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 18:15)

QUOTE (LotusRIP @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 17:33) PS. You have to take into consideration that I'm trying to get into writing music for film/TV, and there's almost no business for it in Australia, so either the UK or America is my ticket to success in this area. If it wasn't for my passion for this profession, I probably wouldn't consider it as much as I am. Maybe when you make it big in the industry you could move back and make the Australian Film/TV industry more sucessful.

Wow what a great idea!

I know video games are a hell of a lot cheaper in the UK.

[Robinski]

Get a job in Walkabout and become a stereotype!

[Jay]

QUOTE (Robinski @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 16:53)

Get a job in Walkabout and become a stereotype!

When I was in London I considered going in there once.

Then I realised it seems a bit silly to travel 17,000km to drink the same sh*t surrounded by the same people.

Although it is hard to avoid Australians in London, there's tens of thousands of them. Although in recent times (for most industries, not necessarily entertainment), moving there hasn't been as attractive. Everyone I know that lives there now works behind a bar. Hope you have an RSA.

[LotusRIP]

I also write music for games, and the games industry (basically entertainment overall) is a whole lot bigger over there... I could have got a job with Rare as I was contacted by HR, but if only I was living there at the time and was in the middle of postgrad study here in Aus

Even the guys who make it here in Australia, are lucky to get 1 job every 3 years. In the UK or America moreso, as long as you have the talent you're never out of work... That's what my teachers all kept telling us - who have been around the world and written music for stuff like Happy Feet and Fight Club

I'm looking to get an Office job/Admin when I get there, to make money the more realistic way. I just hope to pick up some film music jobs by freelance while I'm there on the side - see what happens with it.

This post has been edited by LotusRIP on Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 08:33

[Outcast]

QUOTE (LotusRIP @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 07:03)

Currently I make $600 a week (take home/after tax). I spend $200~ per week on rent and all bills combined, as I live with my fiance so it's all halved. This leaves me with roughly $400 per week of disposable income in AU dollars. How would this compare to UK standards of living?

If you're talking about living in London then a disposable income of roughly £260 is definitely not enough. In regards to rent, I'm paying roughly £25,000 on rent per annum though I am living better than most. For AU$200/week in rent, you're really limited in what you can rent, definitely not any form of apartment or house as you're looking at renting a room for that sort of price. That's just rent, don't get me started with bills. I've had so much trouble with energy companies overcharging me (around £700 per quarter) and you'd have to call them and get them to come get a proper meter reading. If your fiance is moving to the UK with you then I suppose a combined AU$400/week for rent in London is certainly possible, it wont be in the nicest of areas and nothing too big or fancy but it'll do.

I'm sure there are others who know a lot more about living on a budget in London than I.

[Viperman]

Wow I thought the general trend was to go from the UK to Australia for an easier/relaxed lifestyle. Employment in the UK at the moment is hard to come by, without being high experienced and skilled in specific sectors. Where as I'm led to believe jobs down under as available ten fold.

Good luck mate, enjoy your stay. And remember, bring warm clothes.

[Piperka]

QUOTE (Viperman @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 17:47)

Wow I thought the general trend was to go from the UK to Australia

I was going to say the exact same thing!

I think you'd be better off moving to America

[finn4life]

QUOTE (Jay @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 18:32)

QUOTE (Robinski @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 16:53) Get a job in Walkabout and become a stereotype! Everyone I know that lives there now works behind a bar. Hope you have an RSA.

Actually yeah, get an RSA first, it's like a 3 day course, and it could save your ass if you hit rougher times.
I know a few people that have moved there, and like Jay said, they are all bartenders, my cousin (Oddly enough) moved there with the intent of being a bartender.

[negrodamus]

QUOTE (Piperka @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 11:57)

I think you'd be better off moving to America

How is he gonna get a green card and work permit and all that stuff? Moving to America is really hard. You can't just pack your bags and go there.

[Kent Traffic Cop]

Don't do it - this country is sh*t.

Seriously, move to Canada or something - stay Commonwealth but don't move to the motherland.


Put it this way:

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc - it's like you're our children - you've all grown up & moved on and you're doing well for yourselves. We on the otherhand, have become old, decrepid and need putting in a care home.

[CheesyJ]

One thing you'll have to adjust to is the sudden change in weather conditions. It's fine in the summer a lot of the time, but when you've been in Australia, it'll be hard to adjust to the freezing temperatures in the winter.

[UberChargedCJ]

QUOTE (Kent Traffic Cop @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 16:33)

Don't do it - this country is sh*t. Seriously, move to Canada or something - stay Commonwealth but don't move to the motherland. Put it this way: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc - it's like you're our children - you've all grown up & moved on and you're doing well for yourselves. We on the otherhand, have become old, decrepid and need putting in a care home.

i have to say the censorship in australia sucks ass because they have no R18+ classification

[Stinky12]

QUOTE (negrodamus @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 14:52)

QUOTE (Piperka @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 11:57) I think you'd be better off moving to America How is he gonna get a green card and work permit and all that stuff? Moving to America is really hard. You can't just pack your bags and go there.

You know that a illegal immigrants who sets foot on American soil before getting caught, gets to stay.

[ManDog]

Britain is great, it dosen't have any of the (bad) weather conditions of US, here it only has: Thunderstorms, massive rain, that's it really. It has sunny weather, normally it's about 20/30c when summer, and winter? boy is it cold. It's normally -17c
Brrrrrr.

[Jay]

QUOTE (UberChargedCJ @ Thursday, Apr 5 2012, 03:35)

QUOTE (Kent Traffic Cop @ Wednesday, Apr 4 2012, 16:33) Don't do it - this country is sh*t. Seriously, move to Canada or something - stay Commonwealth but don't move to the motherland. Put it this way: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc - it's like you're our children - you've all grown up & moved on and you're doing well for yourselves. We on the otherhand, have become old, decrepid and need putting in a care home. i have to say the censorship in australia sucks ass because they have no R18+ classification

Yet.

Plus that doesn't really make sh*t unbearable down here.

[grope_4_that_date]

Move to America. London is crazy. Riots happen every week.

[GTA1]

Bring your own petrol. There isn't any left