Cost of living: USA vs. Australia

[sydboy007]

Fair enough ... would it surprise you to know that the median graduate salary in Oz is 50K (and in most occupations lower)?

Sounds about right.

Below is the latest AWE I can find.

My understanding is that around 2/3 of income earners don't get to that level.

I think the USA would be a lot better if the healthcare wasn't so screwed up there. It's just scary to think you can get bankrupted by simple medical costs because your employer doesn't give you healthcare. So many on low wages and without adequate healthcare is a recipe for disaster.

I'm very thankful to be growing up in Australia. I doubt I'd have been able to take advantage of the opportunities I have if I'd been born there. At least you can get into university here and not leave with a 100K or more in debt. My friend in San Fran had over 100K of student loans when he finished uni.

Denying access to education based on income is not the way to go. All that talent your not able to take advantage of. A huge waste of human intellect.

I'm wondering if the USA will eventually have to move to Australian style sin taxes. I'd say they could double them and still be lower than here. That does tend to hit the poor the most since they tend to spend a higher level of their income on alcohol and smokes.

I think once the AUD drops back to a more realistic level of 85-90c then a lot of the higher costs debate will be moot as the difference will not be so great.

 

[FlyingFox]

Sounds about right.

Below is the latest AWE I can find.

My understanding is that around 2/3 of income earners don't get to that level.

By my calculations from the table you presented, the average wage is about 75K not 50K.

 

[tinhat]

Do you know that the USA has the highest infant mortality rate (by far) of any so called "first world" country?

The premise of this discussion is laughable. Absolutely laughable.

 

[Tink]

I think its sad the way they are.
I remember watching a documentary a while back of all the volunteers and SES that were there helping at the 9/11, heading to France for medical care, as their own country wouldnt look after them.
For that I am thankful the way Australia is.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Looking at my own background in the electrical trade, one really strange phenomenon is that the jobs which involve the least amount of actual work generally pay the highest rates. I've never really thought about why that is, but it is very much the case.

Mate I see that too. More so nowadays with computerisation because it takes only a human to monitor the functions and do adjustments as necessary. Computers/automation has lessened the physical work of many jobs and consequently less workers are required. Apparently the higher the perceived responsibility, the higher the perceived worth of an individual, regardless of output. Once above a certain level of management, one enters an untouchable realm where salaries are extreme, power is abused and bad outcomes are because of everyone lower down the line.

BUT what about the cost of living today? It has rocketed up in the last 10 years and a spike in the last few years. CPI figures suggest low but goods/services price suggest otherwise. I wonder where these prices are gathered from.