Calculating Your Comfortable Family Income in Australia

How much do you need?

I do get asked some quite strange questions at times, but they are usually one-offs. But this one pops up quite regularly and every time it does, there is never enough information given to me to answer it.

moneyEven with lots of information, it would still be an impossible question to answer, but when the question is something like

I’m moving to Australia next month with my wife and two teenage children, what would be a good salary to ensure a comfortable lifestyle for me and my family?

What chance do I have?

Calculating YOUR comfortable family income

Here’s what I think you need to take into consideration when calculating a comfortable family income for you and your family. You might be able to think of many more.

  • Cost of mortgage or rent.
  • Cost of running a car or cars.
  • Cost of food for your family.
  • Cost of utilities; electricity, gas, water and rates.
  • Cost of additional shopping items; clothes, gadgets, health and beauty, jewellery, computers and toys.
  • Cost of insurances, for the home and for private medical insurance.
  • Cost of telephones, both home and mobile.
  • Cost of entertainment items, like holidays, alcohol, digital TV, going out.
  • Cost of unexpected maintenance bills, for your home, for your car and other things that break.

So to answer these sort of questions, you’d have to offer me a lot of information or I’d have to ask you a lot of further questions.

As you can see, it really is an impossible question for me to answer, but you can answer it for yourself.

Check out my page about The Costs of Stuff.

A simple solution.

If you are coming here from the UK though, this works quite well. However much you spend per month over there in pounds, you’ll probably need twice the amount here in Australian dollars. So if you need £4,000 a month in the UK, budget $8,000 a month here.

Sounds stupid doesn’t it? But I bet it wont be far out.

How can I make sure I earn twice as much in AUD as I currently earn in GBP?

Salaries in Australia are higher than those in the UK, by my estimates over 30% higher; click on the third link below under the title “More useful links:” to my post comparing UK and Australian salaries to see how I got to that.

Once your salary is adjusted to Australian dollars and taking into account the high salaries, you will see from the salary comparison charts on that page that it is quite easy to earn double what you earn in pounds in the UK here in Australian dollars.

Check it out for yourself, and I’ve even updated that post with a 2012 version, you’ll see a link to it from the original post.

More useful links:

My report about The Cost of Living “Comfortably” in Australia

My post called Real Australians Reveal Their Incomes And Monthly Expenses

My entire category on the Cost of Living in Australia.

My posts about jobs and salaries:

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{ 886 comments… add one }
  • Peter Byrne November 28, 2018, 11:01 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    I’ve received a job offer in Perth with a starting base salary of 90k per year.

    I currently live in Malaysia and I’m on RM60k (AUD20k) per year.

    Cost of living in Malaysia is quite cheap so it’s hard to compare the salary figures. The only real problem in Malaysia is that property prices here are excessive because I’m not a Malaysian citizen. I need to spend a minimum of RM1m (AUD328k) to enter the property market, which is unaffordable for me. (My partner is Malaysian though so that’s the main reason I’m here!)

    90k seems like an amazing offer when compared to my current salary as I could actually afford mortgage repayments on a property in Australia.

    However, through some research on forums, quite a lot of people think 90k isn’t really all that great a salary in Australia these days.

    What do you think? Is it worth picking everything up and starting over for what seems like a good income?

    Thanks in advance!

    • BobinOz November 29, 2018, 8:44 pm |

      90k isn’t a bad salary, it’s above the national average, last time I looked, but some people do earn a lot more and plenty of people quite a bit less. Whether or not it’s worth you swapping your Malaysian lifestyle to come here, I really have no idea, I couldn’t even guess.

      I’d be surprised if it wasn’t worthwhile though, Australia is very much a fun country to live in. On that salary, if it’s just you, you do have a chance of getting on the property ladder if you budget carefully. If your girlfriend could come over and add a second income, all the better.

      As for your question about the salary though, you may want to read an article I wrote recently about a series of Cash Confessions, which shows just how differently people cope on their incomes, you can read it here…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/22877/real-australians-reveal-their-incomes-and-monthly-expenses/

      Good luck, Bob

      • Peter Byrne December 2, 2018, 2:18 pm |

        Thanks for the insight Bob and for pointing me to your article, seems like it’s a good and fair starting salary, which can only increase over time hopefully.

        The change of country, culture and lifestyle is still something to think about!

  • Christie November 18, 2018, 4:52 pm |

    Thoughts from a German couple: Me and my partner have now been living in Adelaide for 14 months. Before we moved here we calculated salaries, tax, cost of living, exchange rates back and forths and concluded that we can probably sustain our life style (financially) but we might have to cut back a bit and enjoy more the Australian life-style by means of quality of living. 14 months later I can say that we have never been better financially! We have never managed to save so much money in one year! My savings at the end of the months are 3-4 times higher than they were in Germany. Our gross income is a bit lower than it was in Germany ( keep in mind the ever changing exchange rate) but we pay here a lot less tax and health insurance! Health insurance in Germany is mandatory and takes about 12% of your gross income (+12% payed by your employer). Here we have a luxus-insurance for 600 AUD for both of us per months. That sounds a lot for Aussie but is a bargain for us.
    That said, moving to Australia has improved our quality of life and our savings account!

    PS: yes, we are earning pretty well here, with a household income of 210 k but all of the above is still true!

    • BobinOz November 19, 2018, 6:01 pm |

      It’s great to hear your comments Christie, because so many people have the impression that Australia is super expensive, when I really don’t think it is. Sometimes it’s good to hear what life is like in other countries, and I was quite shocked to hear about your 12% contribution to health insurance in Germany, and even more shocked to hear that employers have to match that with another 12%.

      As you probably know, in the US health insurance and/or contributions are through the roof as well, and somebody somewhere from the US made a list of all the taxes and contributions they pay there, and it went on forever, including contributions to the local fire service. Add to that the state taxes on most goods and then the tipping culture on virtually everything, and ‘cheap’ USA starts to get expensive.

      I don’t think we do so bad here, and I think the health service is fantastic and I’m pretty sure I only pay about 1.5% of my income to the Medicare levy for that. As you say, you are earning well, but incomes in Australia do generally seem to be higher than in, for example, the UK and the USA. So, Australia isn’t so bad.

      Glad to hear you have settled here, thanks for your comment.

  • bob November 14, 2018, 10:01 am |

    I’m disgusted at the entitled comments left here!

    • BobinOz November 16, 2018, 8:53 pm |

      Yes, you’ve already said a similar thing below using the name Kevin.

      I think it’s perfectly okay for people to ask questions about potential incomes when moving to a new country they know very little about.

      It’s not entitled, is not needy and is not arrogant, it’s just being prudent about a potentially big move. Not sure what your problem is.

  • Kevin November 13, 2018, 10:29 am |

    I can believe how entitled, needy and arrogant some of the users on this forum are!. If you earn over 70K a year, you are doing better than most Australians! We have an immense over supply of labor, which is making daily life harder for Australians. Asking entitled question like “is 130K enough to survive off” “I just want better life for my family” just shows the entitled mindset!

    • BobinOz October 5, 2021, 6:19 pm |

      Yes, that’s a very good salary, you will be fine with that.

  • Ravani October 12, 2018, 12:37 pm |

    Hi Bob. I have got offer letter from University of tasmania in Master of pharmaceutical science.. But I m confused regarding settling there. I have got eight years of experience in pharmaceuticals industry and married with no kids.. Also on other hand received offer letter from Greenwich university in London… I am very much confused to select between two countries… Please need your advise…

    • Ravani October 12, 2018, 12:39 pm |

      I forgot to mention that I am from India

      • BobinOz October 12, 2018, 5:23 pm |

        Gosh, what a question, Greenwich versus Tasmania?

        It’s down to you really, what do you prefer? Do you want to live on a quiet, isolated and very pretty island with a population of half a million, surrounded by waters that detach it completely from Australian mainland?

        Or do you want to live in one of Europe’s top capital cities with a population of over 8 million people, plenty of entertainment and nightlife, in a country of over 65 million, rich in history and on the doorstep of mainland Europe?

        These two places really are polar opposites, so it shouldn’t be too hard to choose, based on what you want. What do you want?

  • Prabakaran October 4, 2018, 9:55 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    One of my friends has been offered 110k AUD before tax and has to work from Melbourne. Is it a good salary for a family of four? Also could you please give me an approximation of the take-home salary. He earns 120K INR Post-tax in India at present.

    • Prabakaran October 4, 2018, 9:57 pm |

      Forgot to mention that he was offered 110K AUD/year in Melbourne and earns 120K INR/month in India.

      • BobinOz October 5, 2018, 5:31 pm |

        $110,000 AUD is a pretty good salary, and if your friend Googles ‘Australian online tax calculator’, he can check to see how much tax he would need to pay. In all likelihood, your friend will probably bring home around $80,000 a year.

        Housing in Melbourne is quite expensive though, I just searched the greater Melbourne area for all rental properties available with a minimum of three bedrooms, and there were only 23 that came up for under $600 a week. To check this out, see my page called Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

        So so if he could get a rental for $600 a week, that will account for $31,200, leaving just under $50,000 to support his family. Then there will be some bills, travel expenses, food etc, I’m sure it’s doable, but there won’t be much left. Also, your friend needs to look into whether or not his children will be able to benefit from free state education, because if he does have to pay, that could account for another $10,000 a year or more.

        It may depend on the kind of visa he is coming here on, it’s something he should check with the Victorian education department.

        How it compares with what he earns in India, I have no idea. Good luck though, Bob

  • David October 4, 2018, 3:31 am |

    Hi Bob,
    We are a family of 4, two kids aged 8 and 4.

    I have been given an offered a 170k AUD salary plus bonus and super and I can chose to either work in Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney company offices.

    Do you think this is good for a family of 4 in either locations?

    Thank you in Advance

    • BobinOz October 4, 2018, 8:57 pm |

      Well, I’d say that salary would be great in Brisbane, good in Melbourne and just okay in Sydney. House prices in Brisbane are substantially lower than they are in both Sydney and Melbourne, so I would suggest you would have a much better quality of life if you choose Brisbane.

      I’m pretty sure that most people who know Australia well and who are offered the choice of those three cities on the same salary would very likely choose Brisbane if there were no other influences like family and friends to consider.

      If you don’t have a preference and nothing is making you want to choose a particular city, then go to Brisbane.

  • Jade September 28, 2018, 6:48 pm |

    Hi Bob, I’m uk citizen living in uk with my husband and two kids 3 and 5, I’m earning £50,000 (after tax per Annum). I have a job offer of 130000 per annum in Perth. But I’m very confused and bit scared about the move as it will be the biggest move of my life (considering I don’t know anything about Perth except googling)I have to sell my house (which is in mortgage) mainly everything I have to get rid of to come to Perth with my husband and kids because I can’t afford to trip to uk again.
    My question would be is it worth it?

    • BobinOz October 1, 2018, 7:57 pm |

      Wow, what a question, but one that I couldn’t possibly answer.

      I moved to Brisbane with my family nearly 11 years ago, it has absolutely been worth it, we love it here and we would never go back. Not everybody falls in love with Australia though when they move here, some people miss their friends and family, some just don’t like it as much, and so some go back.

      From my experience, more people stay then return home again, but there are no statistics on that.

      Perth is quite a different story as well though, it’s very much removed from almost all of the rest of populated Australia and some people love that, and others hate it. If your question was about moving to Brisbane, then I would probably be encouraging you to give it a go. I think Perth is a great place to bring up kids, but because of that remoteness, the city comes with limitations.

      You have a tough decision to make and it’s one I really can’t help with. My only suggestion is, if it’s possible, at least come over here with your family for a holiday so you can see what it’s like for yourself.

      Good luck to you, I hope you end up making the right decision.

  • Chris September 26, 2018, 1:24 pm |

    Hi,
    Was wondering about moving to Gold coast off a $2,000 USD pension. About $33,000 AUD per year. Single with low budget lifestyle (cook my own food, grocerie shop) with no cig/alcohol needs (occasional friend outing), never go to movie theater or tours and I dont buy anything. Basically a backpacker looking to enjoy the scene/beach. Is this doable? Rent and food, public transport, no new toys. Not lookin for lavish comfortable life.
    Thanks

    • BobinOz September 27, 2018, 8:16 pm |

      Given your minimalistic needs, financially, yes, I do think it is doable. You could probably rent a room somewhere in a shared house for $200 a week or less, and that would leave you enough to cover the basics with the rest.

      What would be a problem though is getting a visa to allow you to stay here on a long-term basis, because they are issued by the Australian government and the qualifying criteria is very specific.

      That would be your biggest hurdle and, I think, would actually scupper your plans. For more information on that, see my page about Visas.

  • Christian September 25, 2018, 11:01 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    What will be the ideal salary for us to live in Lakemba NSW, that is where our company location and where I am planning to stay near also. We are a family of 4. Me, my wife, 10 Y.O. and a year old son. Would a 70k salary gross is enough if they give an offer? I am coming on a working temporary visa, planning to send my 10 y.o. to school also, plus how much would be the cost of our insurance? Kindly give me an idea how much will be left after all the taxes will be removed plus the rent and electricity.

    • BobinOz September 27, 2018, 7:34 pm |

      Lakemba is in western suburbs of Sydney, and Sydney is easily Australia’s most expensive city. I reckon you’ll need to pay a least $500 a week to rent a place, so that $26,000 a year accounted for all already.

      I’m also pretty sure that you would need to pay for your child’s schooling being on that temporary visa, and that could well be another $6000 – $7000 a year.

      I can’t imagine it will be easy for you and your family to get by on that income, I think it would be a major struggle. It’s hard for me to put an exact number on what you would need to be earning, because everybody has a different budget depending on their needs.

      If I were you though, I would spend a good deal of time working out your specific budget, my page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything will help you with that.

      For tax, see…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/17873/individual-income-tax-rates-australia-and-uk-compared-201516/

      Medical insurance will depend on your ages and medical history, but maybe you’ll get it for around $200 a month or so?

      Difficult for me to offer more advice, I live in Brisbane, but if anyone reading this who does live in Sydney can let us know what they think, we love to hear from you.

      Anybody?

  • Alexis September 22, 2018, 10:05 pm |

    Dear Bob,

    I am a single 26 years old man, planning to move to Perth for a 2-years contract from Europe (Romania) and I will be on a 96000 AD + 9000 AD bonus (total 105000 AD / year) salary (without super).

    Would very much appreciate a view from your side, regarding my forecast and allocation. I used supermarket sites, amazons, and most that I could find on your website to build it.

    And before anything else – a huge thank you for all the information here. It is amazing

    Would like to keep somehow the same lifestyle, and would plan to:
    – rent a nice 1 bedroom apartment (to maximum 1900 AD / month including utilities like electric, water, phone, etc);
    – on a week base would cook for breakfast, 3-4 nights and wekeend lunch and would dine out 3-4 times. I am a big fan of eating healthy and bio, which can means that my supermarket costs would go upper. I allocated 1800 AD for all the food, monthly utilities (like all you need in house for laundry, cleaning, shower, etc.).
    – all the other recurrent spending, like gym, haircut, public transport, and healthinsurance i’ve allocated 300 AD.

    All of these summing up a ~4000 AD.

    Based on the online calculators I used, the 96K / year would end in a take-home of 5800AD per month, leaving me with basically 1800 AD for all other activities.

    Planning to buy a motorcycle or a car in 3-4 months from arrival as well.

    Do you think that this forecast is realistic (too high, too low) and would you see it appropriate for more than a decent lifestyle?

    Your answer is very much appreciated;
    Will have to give my final answer for the move in the upcoming Monday …

    • BobinOz September 23, 2018, 7:23 pm |

      Well, assuming you are a non-smoker and you do not consume alcohol excessively, I think you’ve got everything covered here and your budget looks pretty accurate. I don’t think it is either too high or too low, although that does depend on what kind of meals you will be eating out and cooking for yourself. That said, I think you’ve given yourself a good enough budget to eat good quality food and dine in better than average restaurants.

      What you may have missed out on though are potential medical costs, you’ll probably need health insurance as you may not qualify for Medicare. Being single and young though, you’d probably get that for around $100 a month, maybe a bit more. Remember though, in an emergency, private health insurance usually doesn’t cover everything, so be aware of that.

      You also haven’t put aside for any furniture you will almost certainly need to buy, but these are pretty much one off expenses that you won’t need to worry about once you’re all set up.

      Bottom line though, is that I think you will have a quite decent lifestyle and I cannot see you struggling to be able to afford the things that you say you would like to do here.

      Oh, and thank you for the kind words about my website, much appreciated, and good luck with your move, assuming you decide to go ahead, Bob

      • Alexis September 23, 2018, 7:43 pm |

        Hi Bob,

        Thank you very much for taking the time in providing me this good overview. It comes as a relief for me the answer, since I was afraid to not get it wrong.

        Would have just one more additional question, about which I read a lot – but I cannot find its final answer based on website.

        Topic is: foreign resident vs Australian resident.

        – i will be coming on a 482 – temporary skill shortage (TSS) visa and will have a contract of 2 years with the company.
        – would arrive in Australia on 11 January (and if it is to take in account the days spent during fiscal year, would mean 171 ca the required 183)
        – I own an apartment in Romania

        Any advice on which type of tax they would put me into? Foreign or Australia?

        Thank you very much again in advance

        • BobinOz September 23, 2018, 8:39 pm |

          No worries, glad to have helped.

          With the tax though, I just don’t know the answer, I have no idea how it works. You can always telephone the Australian Tax Office (ATO), I have always found them quite helpful when I’ve spoken to them direct.

          I’m sure they would know the answer.

  • Ash September 4, 2018, 6:51 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    Would $130k per annum suffice living in Mulgrave, Melbourne for a family of 4. Wife has her honours degree in marketing but wouldn’t be looking to work just as the kids are both under 3 years old so that salary would just be for me.
    Thanks for all the info

    • BobinOz September 5, 2018, 7:03 pm |

      That is a good salary, and should be enough to support you and your family, except there is one potentially big problem. What are you going to do about housing?

      Housing in Mulgrave isn’t cheap, I’ve just checked, and houses with a minimum of three bedrooms are $750,000 for the very cheapest, but they mostly seem to be closer to $1 million. I looked at rentals, only one house came up at $680 per week.

      That would indicate to me that the rental market is fiercely competitive in the area and as a new arrival, you may struggle to secure something.

      So the key to whether it will suffice or not may well hinge on your housing plans. Hope that helps, Bob

  • SS August 30, 2018, 8:58 pm |

    http://censusstats.blogspot.com/2012/07/income-distribution-in-australian-states.html

    I couldn’t find the most current stats, but this looked really useful. It shows salary distributions across different Australian states. You’re doing an awesome job Bob! Thanks for all your advise and insights!

    • BobinOz August 31, 2018, 4:31 pm |

      And thank you for the link SS, interesting figures which I’m sure many will find helpful.

  • John August 23, 2018, 11:16 am |

    Hi Bob

    I just started a new job where I make 95k plus 10% annuals bonus and 9.5% super. My partner will most likely be on the same sort of salary once returning to work from MAT leave. We have 2 kids. Where do we rank in terms high-low family income in Melbourne. We want to buy a house and we are trying to consider price range.

    • BobinOz August 23, 2018, 9:30 pm |

      These are two very good salaries, certainly above average, even for Melbourne. With your combined salaries of something like $200,000, I would say you are very well off indeed compared to the average.

      The downside is a housing is still quite expensive in Melbourne, but providing you have a reasonably decent deposit, I think you can buy a decent house. Check the latest house price charts though, there’s been some talk recently of prices in Melbourne having peaked and if that is so, you don’t want to spend too much on a house if it’s going to start losing money.

      There are plenty of websites with good information on house prices, it would be worth spending a bit of time checking them out.

  • Laura August 15, 2018, 12:49 am |

    Hi Bob my husband has been offered a job for AUS $55,000 around 50 miles outside of Melbourne. Is this enough to support a family of 4 (me and our 2 under 5 children?). I’m feeling that this is quite low and not really possible, but I don’t know?! Thank you!

    • BobinOz August 15, 2018, 8:31 pm |

      My feeling is similar to your feeding Laura, that salary is quite low and it will certainly be quite difficult for you. I wouldn’t say that it’s not possible, I’m sure plenty of families with two young children are surviving on $55,000 a year here, but they will be finding it hard.

      Property in Melbourne is expensive, whether renting or buying, but being 50 miles out it would be a bit cheaper. I think if you do want to consider this further, you should really try and do a full budget to suit your own circumstances using the links on my page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything, including working out how much you will have to pay for housing using my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

      You also need to ask yourself how well off or not you are where you currently live, because, for example, I’d rather struggle in Australia than struggle in the UK.

  • Hab August 14, 2018, 6:10 pm |

    Hello Bob
    Thanks for the website.
    For a family of four (kids 10 and 1 y), moving to Brisbane, how is an offer of 85k +17 percent superannuation that can be converted to a package?
    (What does it mean to convert the superannuation to a pack?)
    regards

    • BobinOz August 14, 2018, 9:13 pm |

      That’s a pretty good salary, it’s above average for Brisbane, you won’t be rich, but I reckon you’ll be okay. As for converting your superannuation to a package, I have no idea. You would have to speak to an accountant or a pension expert, or anyone (not me) that does know 🙂

      Good luck, Bob

  • KC August 7, 2018, 9:54 pm |

    No queries from me Bob. Just thanks for the website. I regular check out the Q&A just to stay in touch as I have been an expat for a couple of decades now. Keep up the good work.

    • BobinOz August 8, 2018, 8:53 pm |

      Thanks KC, I truly appreciate that. I certainly intend to keep it going, hopefully people will continue, like you, to check it out. Cheers, Bob

  • Pinak August 6, 2018, 8:45 pm |

    I have been offered sal AUD 72K before taxes. I plan to come there with my spouse and 1 kid(9 months old). My location will be Perth. Can u suggest will it be too crunched or a comfortable stay in this salary. I plan to rent I private home though.

    • BobinOz August 7, 2018, 8:38 pm |

      That’s not a high income, especially as you need to also support your wife and young child. Rents can also still be quite high in Perth, so I think you need to look into that, my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia will help you to do that.

      If you can find a place that is suitable with low rent and keep your transport costs down, that would help. I’m sure you will get by, I’m sure many people on a similar salary do, but you will need to budget very carefully. It’s certainly doable though.

      My page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything will help you do a budget to suit your needs.

      I suppose what you have to consider is how well off you are where you currently live and how much you want to live in Australia.

  • Shashidhar August 3, 2018, 4:36 am |

    Hi Bob, I got a offer for USD 10,000 salary/month & Working place in Sydney.
    This salary is enough for me and my family. What is approximate cost for living in Sydney?.

    • BobinOz August 3, 2018, 4:55 pm |

      $10,000 USD is equivalent to about $13,579.50 AUD according to my best friend Google, and that’s over $160,000 a year. It’s a very good salary, so I suspect it would be enough for you and your family, although you haven’t said how many there are of you.

      The cost of living in Sydney depends on the kind of lifestyle you choose to lead, but for the most part the only thing that is significantly more expensive in Sydney is housing, so just trying keep your rental or mortgage payments as reasonable as possible. If you want to do a budget, my page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything will help you work that out.

      Good luck, Bob

      • Shashidhar August 4, 2018, 1:22 am |

        Thanks for your Valuable information and whishes to me.

  • Mack July 21, 2018, 6:49 pm |

    Hey Bob,
    i have got an offer of 110,000 AUD (+ 17% superannuation) in Sydney as a Post-doctoral fellow at UNSW. I would be moving single for now. I am in Dilemma if this would give me a decent life with some savings. I would really appreciate ur opinion on this. Of course, there is also a question about immigration status, but I would be willing to not hinder this from coming to Australia.

    Best Regards,
    Mack

    • BobinOz July 23, 2018, 6:27 pm |

      Well, $110,000 is a good salary, but on the other hand, Sydney is our most expensive city. As it’s just you though, I think you will have a pretty reasonable life, and would be able to make some savings.

      Your biggest expense will be accommodation, so the lower you can keep your rent or mortgage, the better. My page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia will help you look in to the costs of that.

  • Mridu July 6, 2018, 5:42 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    I have got an opportunity to move in Sydney within the same company at a base salary of AUD 167K. I have a son who is 6 year old and my husband and son may move later after few months with me. Ofcourse my husband would look for a job eventually in Sydney but for the time being, will that be a comfortable salary ?

    Regards

    • BobinOz July 6, 2018, 8:04 pm |

      That’s a very good salary, easily more than double the national average. You will be fine on the income even without your husband working, but obviously you will be much better off when he does get a job.

      Housing is ridiculously expensive in Sydney though, so it may be wise to choose accommodation that fits in with your budget.

      • Mridu July 8, 2018, 3:00 pm |

        Thank you very much Bob. I was a bit quick in asking you this question however, i just got to know that company is offering AUD 145,000 package (incl. Superannuation). I am really sorry to quote a wrong figure earlier. Initially I would move alone and my husband and kid would move in later. Hope that salary would still be good?
        Also, where do you suggest me to stay so I have to pay lower rents and yet save some money?

        • BobinOz July 9, 2018, 7:12 pm |

          Well, it’s still a pretty good salary, so the answer is similar, but of course you won’t be quite as wet off. Keeping your accommodation costs low is your main priority so I fully understand why you are asking that second question, and you can use my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia to do thorough research on the cost of rentals in the area.

          Good luck, Bob

          • Danish K July 15, 2018, 2:58 am |

            Hi Bob,

            Thanks for the helpful posts. Am 37 years of age from India and considering moving to Australia under the 190 sub class PR Visa. I am quite well settled in India both in terms of career and finances. One of the big motivators for me to consider the move is potential better opportunities for my kids who are aged 8 & 5 along with a better quality of life. Am from the Customer Service industry (primarily contact centers) and part of the Sr. Management Team in my current role. The dilemma I m facing to be able to take the decision is whether it is really worth the move giving up a settled base and potentially starting from scratch? How long does one generally take to get a job in line with their domain and not make shift jobs really; which post PRs end up taking in their initial days. I ve done a fair bit of reseaech but would appreciate getting your perspective too. If I do end up making the move, I plan to come in alone and get family a few months down the line once I am reasonably settled. I see myself getting the nominations from Adelaide/Melbourne. Look forward to your response. Thanks !

            • BobinOz July 16, 2018, 7:27 pm |

              It’s a difficult decision for anybody to make, and it is also a risk, simply because there’s no way of knowing whether your life overall will be better here or not. Also, there are no guarantees that you will find any kind of work easily, let alone work in your chosen field.

              Jobs haven’t been easy to come by these last few years in Australia, particularly in Adelaide you may like to know. I wrote about it in 2015 and nothing much has changed since. You may want to read the following article, and especially the comments made on it…

              http://www.bobinoz.com/blog/17033/whats-it-really-like-trying-to-find-a-job-in-australia-2015/

              Having said all that, I believe that if you make the move your quality of life here in Australia for you and your family would be much better providing you do find work. It is a gamble, and only you can decide if is one worth taking. Good luck, whichever you decide, Bob

              • Danish July 18, 2018, 11:01 pm |

                Thanks for the revert. Appreciate it !

  • Abdul Sattar June 30, 2018, 12:56 am |

    Hello Bob, thanks for all your detailed work which is fantastic. I am going to ask another cliche question but my personal circumstances are a bit unique and hence your advice would be helpful.
    I have been offfered an AUD115k salary including super to work in Sydney. If we accept this offer by the time we get there we will be a young family of 3 (baby due in Dec 18) and this will br our family income for the near future. The company is providing us a TSS visa and my is on the MT occupation list and I understand this is convertible to PR after 3 years which is the main attraction. In addition, the company will be paying for all relocation costs. Without even getting into the specifics of cost of living in Sydney which I understand is very high, what hinders my decision is that my current payscale in Dubai is AUD135k (tax free) excluding my annual bonus. And Dubai isn’t as expensive as Sydney. Your thoughts ?

    • BobinOz June 30, 2018, 8:32 pm |

      Well, I can’t comment on whether or not the kind of visa you are being offered can convert to PR after three years, as I am not a MARA registered migration agent so I don’t know all of the rules. You can check on the government website though, a link to it can be found on my page about Visas.

      As for the money, then yes, I think you will obviously be worse off financially in Sydney compared with Dubai. So the question you have to ask is would your quality of life be better here in Australia than Dubai? Maybe it won’t be at first, but in long-term, especially if you can get PR, maybe it’s worth making a sacrifice now for that.

      I think what you maybe should be doing is a thorough budget, my page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything can help you with that, to see just how much of a sacrifice you might have to make and then decide whether or not it’s worth it in the long run.

      It’s a big decision, hopefully you will make the right one for you and your family.

  • Adu June 28, 2018, 6:04 pm |

    I have been offered AUD 82000 (before taxes) in Sydney. I am single (never intend to marry), don’t smoke and my workplace is on Berry Street. Do you think I can find a decent place to stay (comfortable sharing with one more person) while also saving up enough? I don’t (yet) know how to cook, so for the initial few months, I might have to eat out.

    Also, which localities (I don’t want to travel much for work) would you suggest for me? Thanks in anticipation.

    • BobinOz June 30, 2018, 8:08 pm |

      Property is expensive in Sydney, but you can still rent a one bed apartment for under $400 a week right near to where you will be working. If you decide to share with someone in a two-bedroom unit, that should be even cheaper.

      Being as it’s just you, I think you’ll be fine on that income and you will be able to eat out now and then as well. If you want to start saving money though, might be a good idea to learn how to cook 🙂 For more on localities, it’s probably best to look at the comments on my page about Sydney.

  • Emmanuel June 21, 2018, 1:27 am |

    Hi Bob,
    First of all, thanks for having this page. It definitely helps a lot of people like me.
    I’ve just got an offer of 70k + superannuation. Work will be at Port Melbourne.
    Will this be enough for a decent life in Melbourne? I will be moving there alone initially. Then I’ll get my wife probably after 4-6 months.
    Thanks in advance.

    • BobinOz June 21, 2018, 8:02 pm |

      Well, you won’t be rich, it’s a reasonable salary, about average, but Melbourne is our second most expensive city. Like Sydney (see my reply to Leo below) housing is expensive and being as it will be just you and your wife, I’d be looking for a one-bedroom apartment if I were you to keep costs down.

      You won’t be poor, but you will need to budget quite carefully and that will start with finding out how much your accommodation will cost, and as I said to Leo, you can look into that through my page called Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

      • Emmanuel June 21, 2018, 10:44 pm |

        Thank you very much Bob. I will surely look into your pages. 🙂

  • Leo June 20, 2018, 5:59 pm |

    Hi Bob

    I have an offer from Sydney of 118k + super. I am planning to move alone at first and after a year to bring my wife and 2 young boys. This offer is considered reasonable for a family of 4 residing in Sydney?

    • BobinOz June 21, 2018, 7:52 pm |

      Well, it’s a good salary, significantly above the national average. Trouble is, Sydney is our most expensive city, and accommodation costs whether renting or buying are skyhigh. I’m pretty sure you will be okay on this salary, even when your family join you after a year, but the key to it will be in how much you will need to be paying for somewhere to live and trying to keep back to a minimum.

      You can research on my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia

      It’s difficult for me to truly know, I’m in Brisbane, so I’d love to hear what somebody living in Sydney has to say about this. Anybody?

  • Rudolph May 2, 2018, 9:43 pm |

    Hi Bob, I recently got an offer of 115,000$ + superannuation in Brisbane. I want to inquire if this is suitable amount for a family with 3 children. What are expense breakups for schooling, rental, grocery, utilities etc? Will this amount be enough for a decent lifestyle?
    Thanks

    • BobinOz May 3, 2018, 5:02 pm |

      Well, I can’t do a full breakdown for you, although if you search around this website, there is a Google search box towards the top right hand side of every page, you will find I’ve written about the costs of schooling, groceries, utilities and more.

      You will also find my pages Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia and The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything very helpful.

      Bottom line though is that $115,000 a year is a very good salary and Brisbane isn’t an expensive city, so I do think you will have enough for a reasonable to decent lifestyle.

  • Le Chiffre April 28, 2018, 8:23 pm |

    Bob,
    I have a 175k annual salary in brisbane.
    I am single and have a mortgage.
    Is this a good salary to make ends meet?

    • BobinOz April 30, 2018, 5:25 pm |

      It’s a very good salary, probably twice the national average. You will be able to live more than comfortably in Brisbane on this amount.

      • Le Chiffre June 9, 2018, 3:52 pm |

        Thanks bob, but living on this amount of 175k in ‘relatively’ cheap brisbane ( as compared to sydney and melbourne) just isnt working for me. I am not struggling but it feels like it a way too low and middle class salary ( with all respect to salaries less than this).
        Im single, reasonably young, have all the skills i need and then some…..I should be smashing it!
        Dont know what to do here? I think anything north of say 225k in brisbane is probably the right amount to live comfortably?

        • BobinOz June 11, 2018, 5:29 pm |

          Is this some kind of sick joke? You’d be clearing about $10,000 a month after tax and you don’t think that’s quite enough as a single person? This is an insult to families with a couple of kids on half your wage who can only dream of having the kind of disposable income you are lucky enough to have, and yet still get by just fine.

          What really annoys me about ridiculous comments like this is that they mislead my readers. For those of you who do want a sensible indication of what it costs to live here, here’s some solid and factual information based on a survey by the ABS…

          https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/managing-your-money/budgeting/spending/australian-spending-habits

          Of course, Le Chiffre is a fictional character from a James Bond novel. Wikipedia has a description of him which begins “Habits: Mostly expensive…”

          You say you don’t know what to do, I suggest you change that habit.

          • Chris June 11, 2018, 10:18 pm |

            Hi Bob,

            He can apply for the position of CEO at Macquarie Bank, BHP or even Qantas. They pay good money there.

            • BobinOz June 12, 2018, 7:56 pm |

              Yes, that should drag him out of the middle classes.

              • Kari Connor October 23, 2018, 3:12 am |

                Oh Dear, this had me a bit nervous being that we are coming over to Sydney as a family of 4 from NYC on one salary of 165k (hopefully i’ll be able to also work once settled) I’m already dreading the summer rents creeping up! Luckily, we’re living quite modestly in NYC and used to high rents. Don’t appreciate the snarky spambot above! Fingers and toes crossed I’ll be able to wrangle up some part time work once we arrive.. Thanks for the Blog Bob – lots of useful info here!

                • Kari Connor October 23, 2018, 3:14 am |

                  ^ husband is in negotiations of company paying our school fees.. wishing the salary was in USD 😉

                  • BobinOz October 23, 2018, 8:36 pm |

                    Yes, take no notice of the comment above, Le C was being quite ridiculous. $165k is a pretty good salary, but even so, it would be great if you could get those school fees thrown in as well. That could save you around $12,000 a year.

                    As far as I’m aware, it’s only really accommodation costs that are so much more expensive in Sydney than elsewhere, everything else, like eating out, supermarket food, petrol and transport are either the same costs as elsewhere, or maybe even cheaper in Sydney.

                    The key then, is to keep your accommodation costs as reasonable as possible. Check out my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia for help with that.

                    Hope it goes well, Bob

  • Ali April 26, 2018, 5:59 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    I have been made an offer for 95k + superannuation. Is this sufficient for a family of 3 to live in Sydney without worrying about making ends meet?

    • BobinOz April 26, 2018, 8:47 pm |

      The key to answering this question is in how much you will need to pay for your housing. Have a look at the rather scary link posted by David in the comment below to see what I mean.

      If the three of you can fit into a two-bedroom apartment somewhere that doesn’t cost too much, then you will get by, not sure it will be worry free though. That said, I suspect many families of three are getting by on that kind of income, which is above national average.

      To research housing costs, see Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

  • David April 26, 2018, 1:03 pm |

    Hi Bob. Great article as always. I’ve found the following web article to be useful when planning where to move to. I’m a PR who is looking to move from Cairns to one of the capital cities. It’s a real eye opener to see how much they estimate is required in each city if planning to buy a property ($189k in Sydney and $142k in Melbourne!). Thought I’d post it here to help others who are also considering how much they need to live comfortably as home owners:
    https://www.ratecity.com.au/home-loans/mortgage-news/how-much-you-have-to-earn-to-buy-in-each-capital-city

    • BobinOz April 26, 2018, 8:44 pm |

      Wow, yes, that is a fascinating link David, thanks for posting it. Makes for interesting reading for some people, but it will be scary reading for anyone thinking of moving to Sydney or Melbourne.

      House prices in those two cities have risen so much in the last two years it’s ridiculous.

  • Shiv April 22, 2018, 5:13 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    I am getting an offer in Sydney with 120K (including superannuation). I will be coming with my wife. The company is planning for new subclass 482 visa. Is this enough to have a comfortable life? As per my research and calculation, average monthly cost for two would be around $4500 ($3000 Rent + $500 groceries + $500 utilities + $500 transport & recreation).

    • BobinOz April 23, 2018, 6:47 pm |

      Looks perfectly doable to me, and with your salary you will have enough spare income if you need it.

  • Steve April 18, 2018, 2:52 am |

    Hi Bob!
    I’ve just got a job offer for 80 k annual plus superannuation. If I accept I’d come on visa 186 (permanent) with my spouse and two kids (12 and 19y old).
    The job is located in Oakleigh, Victoria.

    Do you think it’s possible to manage to start life in Australia with no too much struggle with this amount of money for the whole family in this part of Australia?

    Thank you so much for your reply!! It is much appreciated!

    • BobinOz April 18, 2018, 6:36 pm |

      Well, the good news is it’s a pretty good salary, it’s at least on par with the average wage in Australia, but more likely slightly above average these days. The bad news though is that Melbourne’s housing is extremely expensive, so the key for you, so you don’t struggle, is to keep your rental or mortgage payments as low as possible.

      If I were you, I’d do a good deal of research on my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia to see what you can get for your money in Melbourne that isn’t too far away from where you will be working.

      Once you know how much money you will have left, you can even use my page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything to help work out your family budget.

      Hope that helps, Bob

  • Renee April 12, 2018, 11:39 pm |

    $85,000 between us , a baby and $200 per week rent in Melbourne?

    • BobinOz April 13, 2018, 8:54 pm |

      $200 a week for a rental in Melbourne? Crikey, where are you getting that? I assume it’s a house share or something?

      Anyway, if that’s all your rent is going to be, then yes, it’s a liveable wage, if that’s what you’re asking.

  • Raj April 7, 2018, 11:06 pm |

    Hi Bob I have a PR visa and been offered a role in Brisbane. 85k + bonus plus super. We wish to rent a house in Rochedale with my wife and 5 year old daughter. Looking online we can rent something really nice for 600/mthly. Is this a good salary to have a comfortable lifestyle in this area as we are not lavish. I will also have a company car. Once settled my wife will look for part time admin work in about 12mths. As always your advice is appreciated!

    • BobinOz April 9, 2018, 7:18 pm |

      Hi Raj, well it’s an above average salary, and Brisbane is a below-average cost of living city, as in much cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne, so I think you’ll be just fine on this salary.

      You won’t be mega rich, but you will certainly get by reasonably comfortably and once your wife starts chipping in with that part-time work, life will get even more comfortable for you. Having a company car is also a great bonus and the icing on the cake.

      Good luck, hope it all works out well for you and your family.

  • Martin March 22, 2018, 8:54 pm |

    Hi bob. I’d love to be able to write more and ask more questions as I feel really out of my depth. I came to Australia on a 489 as a fitter. Was given some bad advice to seek roles further north. It looked like mackay had many jobs, so here I am. Months later, no work apart from some hours cleaning. My saving are nose diving.

    Thankfully I’ve been offered a full time job in recruitment. I believe it pays between 48 to 50 or 52k. Obviously this is better than nothing, but once I start should I keep trying for more money elsewhere? There is currently myself and my partner, she only gets a few hours cleaning at the moment too.
    We aren’t getting any younger and would like to start thinking about having a family maybe a year from now. Our rent is currently 280 pw.

    • BobinOz March 23, 2018, 6:51 pm |

      It’s very difficult for me to advise on this one, but I have just popped over to my page about Getting a Job or a Sponsorship and done a little searching via the links to the job portals there.

      There seems to be quite a few vacancies around the country for fitters, and the money doesn’t seem bad either. Something like $40-$55 an hour which would be better than that recruitment job, so my advice would be to keep looking for work as a fitter.

      The other thing I noticed was that normally, the vast majority of jobs are in either Sydney or Melbourne, but with fitters, Queensland was second only to New South Wales for the number of vacancies and it was ahead of Victoria. (Adzuna breaks the numbers down into states and territories on the left-hand side of the search.)

      The real bonus here is if you can continue to live in Queensland where rental prices for houses are much lower, and get a job paying about $50 an hour, you’d actually be quite well off. So I suspect it would be wise to take that recruitment job for now if you think you need to, but continue to look for something better.

      Hope that helps a bit, and good luck, Bob

      • Cillian April 5, 2018, 9:31 am |

        Hi Bob,
        I will be moving to Brisbane with my partner and 3 year old under the 189 visa. Just wondering in your opinion is 75000 aus dollars enough to live comfortably for the first 2 years there? My partner will be looking for work in the second year. Thanks, Cillian

        • BobinOz April 5, 2018, 8:58 pm |

          $75,000 is a pretty good salary in Australia, plenty of people with bigger families are getting by on it, so you will be okay. It would have been harder if you were going to Sydney or Melbourne, but Brisbane is cheap by comparison so I think you’ll be fine.

          Once your partner starts working in the second year, that will put the icing on the cake.

        • Ockert May 21, 2018, 3:26 pm |

          Hi Cullinan .I see you got to Australia with the 189 Visa .We are looking at entering Aus the same way .Could we connect via email please .I have a lot of questions if it is ok with you .
          Rgds
          Ockert
          obritz@live.co.uk

  • Sumedha March 15, 2018, 10:30 pm |

    Hi bob,

    My bro has been offered a job in Sydney with AUD $58k…can he survive n save well with dis salary??he z not addicted to smoking/drinking or anythng that can increase his expenditure…plz help as he z tensed abt saving..

    • BobinOz March 16, 2018, 4:18 pm |

      That depends how much he will need to spend on his accommodation costs. If he can get something for $250 a week or less, and he is very frugal, and doesn’t have too many other expenses, he would be able to survive and may even be able to save a little bit each month.

  • May March 14, 2018, 11:18 am |

    Hi Bob,

    I am offered AUD78,000 salary to work in Sydney. This is without tax deduction yet. Is this enough for me to survive and earn some money?

    • May March 14, 2018, 11:22 am |

      BTW, I am single and planning to rent a private room near CBD (max budget is 200pw). Thanks in advance.

      • BobinOz March 14, 2018, 6:11 pm |

        This is a pretty good salary and as it’s just you on your own, and as you are happy with just renting a private room, I think you will be fine on this budget.

        I just had a quick look around flatmates.com.au and it appears that there are some rooms available at $200 a week, but most rooms are more, so you may have to up your budget for accommodation. Even if you paid $300 a week, I still think you will be pretty comfortable on this salary.

        • May March 17, 2018, 12:46 am |

          Thanks a heap!

  • Renee March 14, 2018, 4:29 am |

    Hi bob,I’m planning to marry a paramedic who lives in Adelaide earns $85,000/- annually.
    We will have a family of four as both of us have 1 child each, he owns a 4bhk & pays emi for home loan. Will the salary be good enough for a family of four. I’m stressing about it as I don’t live in Australia & I’m completely unaware of the cost of comfortable living. Waiting to hear from you. Thank you.

    • BobinOz March 14, 2018, 5:56 pm |

      That’s a pretty good salary, it’s above the national average, and Adelaide is not an expensive city by Australian standards. I wouldn’t worry about it, I think you and your family will live quite comfortably on this income.

      Good luck, Bob

  • Matilde March 11, 2018, 8:31 pm |

    Hi, Bob! My husband and I are living in Stockholm since 2015 and now a company offered him a job in Melbourne. The salary before taxes would be 116.000 with a annual bonus of 10-20%.
    Will be enough earning 6900 per month? That’s the amount I found on the web it would rest after taxes.

    • BobinOz March 12, 2018, 8:35 pm |

      If it’s just the two of you, yes, I think you will be fine on that salary. Plenty of people survive on less. Just try and keep your accommodation costs as low as possible, housing is expensive in Melbourne.

      To check out the prices, see Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

  • Juan March 5, 2018, 4:40 am |

    Dear Bob,

    I’ve just been offered a 2 year contract at Monash University (Melbourne). My annual pay would be 83,400 AUD gross + 9.5% superannuation. I’ve worked out that my monthly take-home salary would be between 4600 and 5300 AUD (depending on whether or not I am considered a resident for tax purposes) and I have no wife or kids. Would this be enough for having a comfortable life, while renting my own apartment close to the city center and saving enough (say 1000AUD) per month? Thanks!

    • BobinOz March 5, 2018, 6:59 pm |

      Yes, perfectly doable I would say, being as it is just you. Roughly speaking, you’d probably need to pay around $1300 a month on rent, so after you’ve put that $1000 savings away each month, that will leave you with (minimum) of 2300 a month to live on.

      You won’t be stinking rich, but I do believe you will be reasonably comfortable on that.

  • Carl March 1, 2018, 6:00 pm |

    Hi bob,

    We’ve started the 489 process soon to complete sponsored by qld, my wife is a midwife and has been told a yr ago she would start on $70k plus overtime in cairns, she has another yrs experience now and by the time we leave in October 2018 She’ll have another yr so 4yrs experience, the wage should increase, were a family of 5 the plan is for me to get a part time job once the kids are in school, privately rent a 4 bed at around $450 a week as cairns is expensive, I’m hoping to bring in an additional $1000-$1500 a mth, is this combined eith y wife’s wage a livable wage for us?

    • BobinOz March 2, 2018, 4:55 pm |

      Yes, that sounds doable, it’s a liveable wage for sure. Shouldn’t be a problem renting a four bedroom house on that budget either, and your wife’s wage sounds pretty close to the national average.

      I’m sure there are plenty of people surviving on much less up that way, so you’ll be fine. You won’t be rich, but I don’t think your struggle too hard either. If your wife does earn more, and maybe does do a bit of overtime, and then you get your additional income coming through, then I reckon you’d be able to treat yourself now and then.

  • Jason February 7, 2018, 11:24 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    I’m moving to Sydney and a company is offering me 65K AUD as base salary, with commissions. Is this acceptable in Australian wage standards?

    Thanks,
    Jason

    • Mark February 8, 2018, 12:51 pm |

      Hi Jason

      I think before anyone answers you the 65k is all very well but then tax! You might be cutting the cloth a bit thin on that money. The main questions are what sort of commission do you expect on top and then if its a different answer. What sort of commission do you really think you will get. ? is there only you no dependants? . Assume youd house share, just the one of you If its family then you may well struggle on that money alone.
      That might make all the difference!

      Cheers Mark

      • Jason Aquino February 23, 2018, 6:19 am |

        We’re a family of four actually. The compensation says $65K as base salary and $65K in commissions. OTE is $130K – do you think we could live in Sydney decently?

        Thanks,
        Jason

        • BobinOz February 23, 2018, 6:55 pm |

          The main problem with Sydney is the cost of housing, so I think you really need to look into that first, whether you’re renting or buying. This page will help, Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

          It’s really hard to say whether you could live ‘decently’, because that’s not really definable. If you can keep your housing costs as low as possible, then I’m sure you will get by, plenty of people in Sydney do on that money. Depending on what kind of visa you are coming in on though, you may have to pay for your children’s education, and that could be a bit of a drain.

          Check my page about it here…

          https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/11413/state-school-fees-for-temporary-visa-holders-in-australia/

          The concern though is if you don’t reach target and do not get those commissions, you could then struggle. You also need to, I imagine, try and work out whether you would be better off coming to Sydney than where you are now, and to do that you probably will need to do a thorough personal budget, my page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything will help you with that.

          Good luck, Bob

  • Veronica January 31, 2018, 8:02 pm |

    Hi Bob. Thanks for all the information you provide on your website, it really throughs light into our big decision.
    We are a family of 4 with two kids ages 11 and 6. We have been offered a job in Sydney both of us, with $65,000 and $75,000 respec. I would think the superannuation it’s included on those figures.
    With all the expenses, health insurance, accomodat, phones, schools, and still mortgages for a value of $1,600pm it seems we will be quite tight. Do you think we can we make a decent living or we will just get along surviving? I would really appreciate your comments on this.

    Kind regards
    Veronica

    • Mark February 8, 2018, 12:55 pm |

      Hi Veronica
      Its do able, its130K you will if you are not lavish be OK It depends what you are leaving behind eg leaving a decent job or the new 65 75 is way better. Your 1600pm on a mortgage of course is a moveabe feast dependant on what you buy, what deposit you have and so on

      • BobinOz February 9, 2018, 4:57 pm |

        Yes, as Mark says, it is doable, especially if you are saying that you have looked into it and your mortgage will only be $1600 per month. That’s very low for Sydney, but if that’s all you’re going to pay I think you will be fine.

        If you are guessing on the mortgage though, I’d look at it again if I were you.

  • ms January 27, 2018, 9:25 pm |

    Hi Bob,

    I have a job offer in Sydney (AUD 70K+Super). Can a family of 4 (couple and 2 kids) survive in this salary? I have PR and will move from India with family, if I accept the job. Please advise.

    • BobinOz January 29, 2018, 8:01 pm |

      Survive is an interesting word, and my answer would be yes, possibly, but it would really depend on how much you will need to be spending on housing, whether it’s mortgage or rent.

      If you have no deposit to buy a house, then you will need to go into rented. Either way, check out my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

      Additionally, if you are on a temporary visa, you may have to pay something like $6000 a year for each of your children’s education…

      https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/11413/state-school-fees-for-temporary-visa-holders-in-australia/

      Even if you could keep your accommodation costs down to $2000 a month, which I doubt, and if you do have to pay $1000 a month for schooling, that’s not going to leave you much at all.

      Survive, possibly, but it won’t be fun and I wouldn’t want to try it.

  • Max January 25, 2018, 12:46 am |

    Hi bob, I was offered 98k p.a. + 10% super in sydney and i will be coming with my wife and 2 baby.

    Can you roughly advice about estimated cost
    Tax:
    Healthcare:
    Car:

    Would it be enough to live comfortably?

  • Sadia January 15, 2018, 6:05 pm |

    Hi Bob,
    I am planning to move Australia preferably Melbourne with my family (1 spouse and 1 kid).
    How much salary will be good to live a good life there.
    Appreciate your reply.

    • BobinOz January 16, 2018, 11:37 pm |

      There is no magic number, everybody’s needs are different and of course, much depends on your housing costs. The best way to work out how much you will need is to do a proper budget and price up all the things you need as a family. My page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything will help you with that.

      • Sadia January 17, 2018, 1:38 pm |

        Thank you so much for your reply.
        I will work on it.

        Thank you

        Regards

  • Charl January 9, 2018, 2:32 pm |

    Good day Bod,

    Hope you well….question.

    I’ve been offered Aus 180k per year to work for a company in Sydney. This will only be for my wife and myself. Do you think this is a decent salary bracket ? If I work it out take home salary would be around 10k per month (I might be wrong)

    I will relocate from South Africa.

    • BobinOz January 9, 2018, 8:56 pm |

      Well, it’s an excellent salary, more than double the national average. Some would say it’s closer to treble. So yes, it’s a decent salary bracket and should allow you and your wife to live a reasonably good lifestyle. I only say ‘reasonably’ because accommodation costs in Sydney are through the roof, so you need to make sure what you pay for rent or mortgage is not excessive.

      Good luck, Bob

      • Charl January 15, 2018, 6:54 pm |

        Thanks for the reply Bob.

        I have learned that from the 180k, I will still have to deduct w
        The amount of 180k will form part if Total Fixed Reward (TFR) which includes a 9.5% superannuation contribution, this means my gross base pay would equate to $164384 before the usual tax deductions.

        Seems take home would be around the 9k mark per month. I am not sure of medical aid cover and would still need to confirm on that, so that might be another 1.5k out of my pocket for my wife and I.

        Would earning 9k a month still be a good salary ?

        • BobinOz January 16, 2018, 11:40 pm |

          Yes, it’s still very good, but if you are concerned about it, then it might be a good idea to check out my page The Cost of Living in Australia of Everything and work out how much you are likely to spend each month based on your needs.

          As I said before, the critical element is almost certainly going to be your housing costs and that’s something you really should look at before you decide what to do.

  • Rachae January 1, 2018, 11:12 am |

    Hi bob.
    My partner has been offered sponsorship in mt gambier, South Australia via rsms visa.
    The offer is $60,000 plus super. Initial rental help and a work van.
    I’ve seen houses of a nice quality go for around $250 a week.
    He woukd be on this wage for 2 years until his visa requirements are met and can then sub contract as well if necessary.
    Can a fanily of 5 get by on this wage at all?
    Thankyou

    • BobinOz January 2, 2018, 8:00 pm |

      It’s going to be tight, very tight, but I think with good budgeting you will be able to get by. Obviously a lot depends on your lifestyle, but with your partner getting a work van and I assume the petrol with it, that will help. Cigarettes and alcohol are very expensive here, so if you like that kind of thing, that will stuff up your budget.

      As I say, it will be tough, you won’t have any spare money, but others can and do get by on this kind of income, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to as well. I think you need to look at what your lifestyle is like now where you are, and then decide if you think you can have a better lifestyle here on this wage.

      Good luck, Bob

      • J January 4, 2018, 6:50 pm |

        Hi
        My we are looking to move to Perth , my wife’s wage is €120,000 A year , I would be looking after my 2 kids for the time being .. is that enough to survive on for us all ?

        • BobinOz January 5, 2018, 8:03 pm |

          If you really mean euros, that’s about AU$180,000 which will be more than enough for you and your family. Even if it’s Australian dollars, $120,000 is still a very good salary. Housing is still quite expensive in Perth, I think, but you will be fine.

  • Satya December 23, 2017, 7:29 pm |

    This blog is amazing.
    Bob, With your permission can I post the link of whatsApp Group which I created just now?

    • BobinOz December 24, 2017, 5:32 pm |

      Thanks, glad you like it.

      I’m afraid the answer is no to your whatsApp link; if I’m not mistaken people have to be a member of whatsApp to see the content, and not everybody is. I’m not, for example. Good luck with your group though, Bob

      • Satya Valluri December 25, 2017, 12:55 am |

        Thanks for your comment.
        I really appreciate the good work you are doing here.
        I think the blog contains all the information I need but I shall comment if I’m case something I need isn’t present.

    • Ockert May 21, 2018, 3:37 pm |

      Hi Satya what is your wa group about ?
      Rgds
      Ockert
      +27741139980

  • BobinOz December 13, 2017, 10:35 pm |

    I would think you would be able to afford a very decent lifestyle on that money in Shepparton. I don’t know the place well, but I have driven through it…

    https://www.bobinoz.com/blog/282/time-to-head-back-to-brisbane/

    And yes, house rental costs are usually much lower in rural towns, but you can check it on my page Cost of Buying or Renting a House in Australia.

    I think you will be fine on that money.

  • John December 13, 2017, 8:28 am |

    Hi Bob. I got an offer of AUD 83500 plus superannuation in rural Victoria (Shepparton). I intend to move alone. Are the living costs (house rentals especially) relatively lower in rural/ small towns? Will I afford to live a decent life (i.e. eat, afford a decent car and save for a holiday etc) off this salary?

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