I will be moving to Aust permanently in about 6 months, and I have no friends or family there. I am an accountant (just passed my Australian CPA) by training and would love to live in a city where the cost of living is not too high on an accountant's salary. Please advise on your thoughts on the following cities-Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide.
Anxious abt job prospects, quality of life, safety etc. Thanks guys :)
2007-02-03 05:37:45 · 9 answers · asked by swellen_gal 3 in Travel ➔ Australia ➔ Other - Australia
G'day
Melbourne!!! Wellll... where should I start?
1. First of all... some people do not like the weather in Melbourne (you can have 4 seasons in one day). However, if you read the first article from The Age newspaper, you will find out that the weather is still more preferable than the other cities. Sure you can have 42C day like last month, but almost immediately you'll get a much cooler weather pretty soon afterwards. It is very rarely that you got 2 or 3 consecutive days of hot weathers (unlike Sydney, Brisbane or Perth).
2. Melbourne is a city of diversity. If you are a newcomer, and you do not look 'Anglo-Saxon', you do not feel like an 'alien', since you can find almost every race in the world walking in the city. They are both immigrants and overseas students.
3. THE FOOD!! Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Thai, All-you-can-eat, African, Lebanese, Mexican, Sea Food... anything else? All available and lots of them in a very-very-very affordable price
4. Pretty good public transport system. With one ticket, you can switch from train, tram and bus. They do not always come on-time, but still reliable and improving (www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au).
5. SHOPPING!!! Original branded clothing sold very cheap. There are even shopping tour, where the participants are taken to retails outlets just for shopping. Big temptations for ladies.
6. Crime rates... just read the second article on the bottom.
7. Cost of Living... I'll say it's second most expensive city after Sydney. Altho I have to say that some cities in Queensland can be more expensive to live.
8. Night Life... hmmmm... I'll say the centre of nite activities will be Crown Casino and Docklands. Altho there are still plenty of cafe's and clubs scattered around the suburbs as well.
9. Tourist attraction. This is the area that I think Sydney is better than Melbourne, since it has most of it's attraction within its suburbs. Most Melbourne attraction are pretty much out of Melbourne, such as the gold mines in the cities of Bendigo and Ballarat, The Great Ocean Road, Lakes Entrance, Grampians, skiing in Mt. Buller etc.
You can cross reference with some real-estate websites to know the rental costs (www.realestate.com.au or www.domain.com.au).
Some jobs websites are as follows:
www.seek.com.au
www.mycareer.com.au
www.careerone.com.au
As you have already passed your CPA, I have no doubt that you have little trouble in getting a job. Just do not limit your job hunting only to Accounting firms, but also any accounting jobs available (as a stepping stone). I've got plenty of friends in Accounting area and I cannot recall them being out of work for very long period.
Running out of ideas, but I hope that I can at least give you some more informations that have been provided by the answerers before me.
Good luck and welcome to Melbourne. I've been living in Melbourne for 16 years, visited some other capital cities in Australia and still giving Melbourne 10/10 for the best city in Australia.
Send me an e-mail if you have any further queries.
2007-02-10 23:31:10 · answer #1 · answered by Batako 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
All Australia's cities have points in favour and points against. The prettiest and friendliest - and cheapest - is Hobart. Adelaide is next cheapest followed by Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. I have lived in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney and have visited all the others frequently. I enjoy them all. The southern cities, can get cold in winter and all can get very hot in summer. Brisbane would have the least variable climate but it is very much wetter in summer than Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth, as is Sydney.
The amount and variety of nightlife is linked to the size of the city. Sydney has the most with Melbourne a close second. Hobart would have the least but you can still have a lot of fun in Hobart. Tasmania makes the best beer with Cascade and Boags both great. Adelaide makes the worst in West End and Southwark but has a great beer as well in Coopers. Otherwise beers are of a high standard and some of the boutique beers brewed in the pubs are outstanding. You will find these in all cities if you look.
It really depends on your interests. Read about the various cities and choose for yourself. Whichever you chose, you will enjoy it.
2007-02-03 12:58:20 · answer #2 · answered by tentofield 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OK:
Melbourne is one of the worlds most livable cities, BUT the weather is nuts, four seasons in one day is the saying and its true, personally i couldnt deal with the dreary rain all the time
Sydney is ok in the suburbs but everyone there is stuck up and there is lots more crime, violence, poverty etc
Perth is gorgeous but so far away from everything.
Brisbane: The best for sure as long as you can stand the heat. Dead of winter you can wear jeans and a t shirt, maybe a sweater at night. Middle of summer....well...theres are reason people from QLD are often called slower cos the heat fries their brains!!
Adelaide is a hole. Tiny and boring, stay away!
Personally i live in canberra, which is great for young families and uni student types. We are the capital and so have lots of free cultural activities (theatre, comedy, art, movies etc) and stuff but the housing prices are sky high. Crime is near zero and the city is beautifully planned. Its a boring place to visit, wonderful place to live
2007-02-04 12:38:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm in the same situation than you. I'll be moving to Australia next June, and after much consideration I chose Melbourne. It's not as cheap as Brisbane, but cheaper than Sydney, and it's a large city with plenty of things to do. I'm a Civil Engineer and there are a lot of job openings down there.
I did a lot of research and, for me, Melbourne's the place to go.
2007-02-03 11:24:25 · answer #4 · answered by ljjahn 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would absolutely agree - Brisbane is the way to go. I have lived there in the past and it was great! Cheaper than the other major cities, pretty laid back, and there are beaches everywhere. Plus the major theme parks are there too. Good luck!
2007-02-03 08:59:33 · answer #5 · answered by quiltamomma 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
id say Melbourne as its continually voted as one of the most live able cities in the world,has great sporting events and plenty of great restaurants bars and relaxed life style for a big city.
and to miss cass melbourne's average yearly rainfall is 653mm
compared to brisbane which has an average of 1146mm so brisbane actually has more rain
its just that melbourne has colder winters seeing as we are down south.
2007-02-04 22:45:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Melbourne is the best city in Australia to live in. It has been voted many times 'the worlds most livable city'. from cost of living to jobs to sport and entertainment you cant go past Melbourne.
2007-02-04 06:12:20 · answer #7 · answered by wheels 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well Ben Elton chose Perth and I would have to agree, But if I had to leave here Melbourne would be the place I wouild move to. I love it there. No really reason unfortunately just personal choice.
2007-02-06 00:27:27 · answer #8 · answered by kllr.queen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adelaide
2007-02-10 22:10:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Brisbane cheapest and best.
2007-02-03 07:09:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋