Cost of living: USA vs. Australia

[gordon2007]

Let's just say you had $1.5 million in the bank and the opportunity to either live in australia or the usa as permanent resident or citizen in both countries.

Based purely on financials, which country would you reside in, and why?

 

[prawn_86]

Personally i dont see how one can make a choice like this based only on money and not on other lifestyle factors.

 

[gordon2007]

Personally i dont see how one can make a choice like this based only on money and not on other lifestyle factors.

OK maybe I could narrow it down a bit. Let's say you wanted a small beachfront house or unit. something simple to take care of. The $1.5 is disposable tax free cash. No mortage held on either house.

 

[Fishbulb]

States without question

Change is good, plus I know folks there already. Nice little spot in Northern California - I'd even consider Montana or Alaska.

 

[So_Cynical]

Australia...and if i did go US then it would have to be Hawaii or Florida keys and then not sure 1.5 mill would be enough in the Keys or Hawaii?

States without question

Montana or Alaska.

Beach front in land locked Montana : or with polar bears in Alaska..its certainly a change.

 

[sam76]

Why not live like a king in SE ASIA?

 

[So_Cynical]

Why not live like a king in SE ASIA?

In general there's no free hold title for non nationals...as in foreigners cant own land but they can own apartments etc....in general.

Yes your right, lease and live like a King in southern Thailand or put the feet up somewhere quiet like Camiguin Island in the Philippines...or rock on in HK.

 

[Buckfont]

Depends whether you want to live like the Hollywood set or experience the States on on a level that most do. To the former 1,5M wont go far.

If you`re after a bit of adventure, do what I and 2 mates did Jul -Sept `07 for 8 weeks.

We bought a `96 Camry for US$2400.00, saw 37 states, stayed in 3* motels that were more than comfortable, paid for food, budweisers, Tshirts, gifts, National Park fees, petrol and air fares there and back, and across The Grand Canyon and it cost me a little over AU15000.00. And at the end we sold the car to the motel manager in LA. on leaving, for US500.00!

That makes $1,500,000.00 minus $15000.00. lots of spending money for property and seeing more of the USA. Trouble is there are things called visa requirements and if you want to settle there you may have to find a nice yankee gal to legitimize it.

I believe property ownership has, as a non US citizen, its own set of problems unless you have relations over there.

But to to the question of if, Gordon, I`ll always call Australia home.

 

[Buckfont]

Australia...and if i did go US then it would have to be Hawaii or Florida keys and then not sure 1.5 mill would be enough in the Keys or Hawaii?



Beach front in land locked Montana : or with polar bears in Alaska..its certainly a change.

Yeh, they have that here, It`s called the gold coast.

 

[newbie trader]

Depends whether you want to live like the Hollywood set or experience the States on on a level that most do. To the former 1,5M wont go far.

If you`re after a bit of adventure, do what I and 2 mates did Jul -Sept `07 for 8 weeks.

We bought a `96 Camry for US$2400.00, saw 37 states, stayed in 3* motels that were more than comfortable, paid for food, budweisers, Tshirts, gifts, National Park fees, petrol and air fares there and back, and across The Grand Canyon and it cost me a little over AU15000.00. And at the end we sold the car to the motel manager in LA. on leaving, for US500.00!

That makes $1,500,000.00 minus $15000.00. lots of spending money for property and seeing more of the USA. Trouble is there are things called visa requirements and if you want to settle there you may have to find a nice yankee gal to legitimize it.

I believe property ownership has, as a non US citizen, its own set of problems unless you have relations over there.

But to to the question of if, Gordon, I`ll always call Australia home.

Such a good holiday Buck, my family did something similar for 8 weeks (rented a car) and seeing as though we used frequent flyer points for the 4 of us (so the flights there and back cost $0) it didn't cost much over what we would have been spending at home during the holidays.

(I know some people who live there at the moment and they say during the GFC and since then things have been significantly cheaper)

N.T

 

[Buckfont]

Such a good holiday Buck, my family did something similar for 8 weeks (rented a car) and seeing as though we used frequent flyer points for the 4 of us (so the flights there and back cost $0) it didn't cost much over what we would have been spending at home during the holidays.

(I know some people who live there at the moment and they say during the GFC and since then things have been significantly cheaper)

N.T

Newbie, my experience since that US holiday (pre GFC) is that a 5 days round Temora, Cootamundra, Canberra, for myself and my son two months ago, everything included and travel a bit north of Sydney, was nudging $750.00.

No wonder people want to holiday OS. the way the dollar is.

 

[newbie trader]

Newbie, my experience since that US holiday (pre GFC) is that a 5 days round Temora, Cootamundra, Canberra, for myself and my son two months ago, everything included and travel a bit north of Sydney, was nudging $750.00.

No wonder people want to holiday OS. the way the dollar is.

Yes, I think many Australians (although it is good to support Australian tourism) are waking up to OS travel...In Dec2008-Jan2009 we were going to go back over to the states for 5-8 weeks, however, the dollar was so bad at the time we canceled as it would have been a waste of money and went to Thailand instead...We again rented a car and drove around for the time we were there which ended up being much cheaper than holidaying in Australia.

N.T

 

[Knoxy]

Believe for no good reason that Aus is expensive generally so the answer from financial perspective would seem to be the US. Some cheap real estate in places like Georgia.

Still, I lived in Thailand for 3 years and can say its different living somewhere to visiting. The US would likely drive me nuts, get enough US culture here. Aus for me.

 

[CanOz]

Believe for no good reason that Aus is expensive generally so the answer from financial perspective would seem to be the US. Some cheap real estate in places like Georgia.

Still, I lived in Thailand for 3 years and can say its different living somewhere to visiting. The US would likely drive me nuts, get enough US culture here. Aus for me.

I reckon the US is Cheap, having just toured through three continents on my way back to China.

That said, i would prefer Australia to the US for tons of reasons. Basically you get what you pay for.

Cheers,


canOz

 

[Knobby22]

A guy I worked with emigrated to Australia.
His cousins emigrated to the USA.

He cousin says that when they want help with their property, they just go to the hardware store where there are desperate people just sitting out the front. His cousin offers 1$ for 3 hours work and he gets plenty of offers, He picks one and the guy will do the hard work.

The cousin regrets greatly not choosing Australia. He hates the poverty everywhere and the desperation. Also his Australian cousin (they are both African) has had rapid promotion while he seems to be stuck even though he has equal qualifications. Their house is bigger though.

 

[Investor82]

Whats better and apple or an orange.

You cant really compare the two as they are different each with their pros and cons. It depends on everyones personality.

If it was purely a $$ point of view, why would you choose either Australia or US? Why not broaden your horizon and look somewhere completely different. You might be suprised at what you find.
I now spend most of my time in Kazakhstan and get to travel a lot, some of the places I visit many Westerners have never even heard of - but maybe thats what makes them great?

just my

 

[gordon2007]

Why not broaden your horizon and look somewhere completely different.

Fair question. It isn't me with these options though. A friend (really) was asking me the other day and I just got to wondering. Wanted to see what the thoughts were on here.

 

[Absolutely]

Definitely the US is cheaper. Much cheaper when it comes to housing, cars and fuel, although the cost of services is a bit of an illusion, as once you have provided the required tip, and given you don't want to seem like a tight ****, you will find the cost of services will exceed that in Australia.

 

[ajjack]

A guy I worked with emigrated to Australia.
His cousins emigrated to the USA.

He cousin says that when they want help with their property, they just go to the hardware store where there are desperate people just sitting out the front. His cousin offers 1$ for 3 hours work and he gets plenty of offers, He picks one and the guy will do the hard work.

The cousin regrets greatly not choosing Australia. He hates the poverty everywhere and the desperation. Also his Australian cousin (they are both African) has had rapid promotion while he seems to be stuck even though he has equal qualifications. Their house is bigger though.

What you say is quite true.
I travel Stateside quite often, and in my line of biz,
I see those sights regularly.

The US has a unique set of problems not easily seen
in the touristy areas.
Can be depressing.

 

[Fishbulb]

Australia...and if i did go US then it would have to be Hawaii or Florida keys and then not sure 1.5 mill would be enough in the Keys or Hawaii?



Beach front in land locked Montana : or with polar bears in Alaska..its certainly a change.

I am a man of extremes

I love both desert and ocean. Maybe Namibia....? Hmmm, that would be nice.