The UK vs Australia: A General Bill Comparison

October 25, 2016


General bills

So Australians are happier. And why wouldn’t they be? With a laid back culture that embraces sport, freedom and, of course, the sun, they are bound to report higher levels of life satisfaction. But does it all come at a hefty price? In this section we take a close look at the general bills you would be expected to pay monthly in Australia.

Electricity, Mobile and Internet

Unsurprisingly Australia is way more expensive than the UK for internet and mobile service. Coming in at nearly double the price compared to the UK, you can imagine that all the extra wiring needed to keep such a big country connected is bumping up the price. The positive point for Australians however is that they can probably afford it.  With cheaper electricity and no real need for heating for at least 10 months of year, bills are nearly £40 cheaper than their commonwealth compatriots.

 

Getting Around

In such a big country travel is going to be a hot issue. Especially if you envisage travelling as part of your emigration plan. The positive news is that travel in Australia is far cheaper than the UK. The average petrol price per litre is nearly 40p cheaper and if you’re travelling my public transport the cost is far cheaper too.  

Family Food Shop

While the general bills may be cheaper in Australia how will your weekly family shopping bill compare? In this section, using online shopping tools provided by Sainsbury in the UK and Coles in Australia, we take the average family weekly shopping list and take a close look at the costs of everyday groceries.

Unsurprisingly with such a huge country isolated from much of the modern trading world, Australia is by far the more expensive option when shopping for groceries. Coming in at £84.26 for an average family shop in Australia, the same shop in the UK would only cost you £51.26. Saving you over £30 per week.

Who Wins – Australia!

While the doubled up price for internet and phone service will sting the bank balance once per month, there really is only one winner in the general bills section. Offering cheaper petrol prices, low-priced utility bills and economical car prices, affording a life in the sun doesn’t seem to be out of the budget. Maybe even cheaper than the UK?