Living in Australia: Pros and Cons
There are many great reasons for living in Australia as an American. Ultimately, it offers a great experience to both expats looking for work and to retire. However, there are pros and cons of living in Australia vs USA to look at first. We’ll take a look at them and why we still think many Americans should try it out.
Check out our article on the pros and cons for differences living in the Australia below!
Living in Australia: Pros and Cons Disclaimer
To start off, it is important to understand there are differences in life throughout Australia. Areas are different even within the same country. Living in Sydney will be different than Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, etc. For this reason, the differences for the Australia vs USA are broad and may not apply to all areas.
Pros of Living in Australia vs USA
There are many pros when living in the Australia vs the USA. The fact that so many Americans are living there right now should be a testament to that. We’ve listed some of the many benefits expats have told us they liked while staying here.
No Language Barrier
When living in Australia, many Americans find the fact that they speak English a great benefit. This means they can move here knowing they can speak the same language as everyone there. Be careful though, as the slang and terminology may be a bit different than what you use at home!
High Standard of Living
Australia is one of the countries with the highest standards of living and wages. They are know for one of the highest qualities of life and pay is significantly higher in the same industry. This translates to why there are many Americans, as they are here to accept new jobs.
Vast Natural Areas
Australia has biodiversity unlike anywhere on earth. There are rainforests, mountains, beaches, deserts, and many more. Each of these all have its own set of interesting creatures and animals native to Australia alone. With breathtaking views and climates available, many people enjoy going out to see nature more here.
Cons of Living in Australia vs USA
Though there are also cons when living in the Australia vs the USA. When living here, many Americans have experiences that are unappealing and detract from the overall experience. We’ve listed some of the many cons expats have told us they did not like while staying here.
Expats Still Pay US Taxes
Given that you are an American expat in Australia, you still have to pay US income tax if you make money. You can get rid of your US citizenship and become an Australian citizen, but that is pretty drastic. Most expats pay the taxes to both countries as they may want to return to the states in the future.
High Cost of Living
Since there is higher living quality and wages, the cost of living also goes up with them. One of the places this is the worst is in housing. Buying a home is very difficult and expensive, so you may be better off renting if you don’t plan on staying for a very long time.
Also if you aren’t covered by Australia’s national healthcare, you may end up paying a lot for health insurance as well. Though if you are covered, you’ll have some of the best health insurance for free.
Dangerous Weather and Animals
If you like really hot days and really cold nights or tons of snakes, then this isn’t a con. Otherwise, these are common throughout most of Australia. Even worse, some of the deadliest spiders lurk all around the country. Many expats say they get used to these over time, but it definitely needs some time to acclimate.
Want to Live in Australia?
With the pros and cons of living in Australia, there are definitely reasons to move here. Even though there are downsides, nowhere is perfect. Australia has had a boom in Americans living there for good reason anyways.
If you are moving or thinking about moving to Australia, we at Schumacher Cargo Logistics can help you out. With over 40 years of experience, SCL is the premier moving company to Australia. From cars to full households, we can ship your goods door to door from the US to anywhere in the country. There are definitely more differences living in Australia, but we’ll let you experience the rest while you’re there.
To get started fill out our Online Quote Form or read another of our Australia guides below.
More Australia Guides
Written by Damien Shields
With the world going ever more global, it’s becoming easier and easier for people to try out living in an exciting new part of the world. And one of the most exciting places you could hope to test out is Australia. But with so many iconic, exotic, and exciting things on your plate, what do you do and see first?
A big move requires planning and preparation, and luckily we’re just the right people to help with that during moving season. We can help your move to Australia be as easy and stress-free as possible.
7 Things To Do And See FIRST In Your Move to Australia:
Great Barrier Reef:
This one will certainly qualify as an adventure and might cost a bit but you absolutely have to see the biggest barrier reef in the entire world. Home to some of the most beautiful and fascinating creatures on Earth, the Great Barrier Reef is a sust see!
Drive the Great Ocean Road:
One of the cheaper and yet more stunning sights in Australia can be found simply by driving the Great Ocean Road. This coastal highway offers easily some of the best shoreline driving on the planet. Be sure to watch the coast for the 12 Apostles – 12 columns of limestone jutting out from the waters.
Sydney Opera House:
One of Australia’s most, if not the most, iconic buildings is the Sydney Opera House. You simply must attend something here. It would be like moving to Chicago and not seeing the Sears Tower (yes, that’s right Sears Tower).
The Grampians National Park:
This park in Victoria is home to some of the coolest rock formations in the country as well as some of the oldest Aboriginal rock art. This is the Monument Valley of Australia.
Byron Bay:
Though a bit of a tourist trap, Byron bay in Queensland is one of Australia”s most iconic beaches. You’ll be doing yourself a disservice by not checking it out once. Might as well get it out of the way while you are still a tourist before setting out to find the hidden gems.
Uluru:
The most iconic sight in all of Australia’s Outback is Uluru. This humpbacked rock is truly a marvel of geography and ancient culture. You must see it!
Kakadu National Park:
While pretty much any of Australia’s national parks should be on your immediate must see lists, Kakadu offers some of Australia’s rarest, most iconic, and most gorgeous sights all in one park.
Written by Alex Bach
Whether setting out for a lifetime of bicycle exploration, undertaking the longest (and most scenic) bike trail in the world, or strapping in for a record setting pedaling session, the world is full of epic bicycle adventures. Here are some of the best feats to perform on a bicycle.
Heinz Stucke’s Continuing Ride:
In Germany, Heinz Stucke went out for a ride on his bike one day and never came back. Sort of. In 1962 Stucke, a German citizen, started a journey he remains on to this day, endeavoring to see as much of the world as he could from the seat of his bicycle. He’s traveled almost 600,000 miles in his 48 years on the road, seeing just about every country you can imagine (257 in total).
Australia’s Munda Biddi Trail:
Munda Biddi trail in Australia offers 1,000 km of scenic pathways as it winds through the bushlands of Western Australia from Perth to the coastal Albany. The trail–the longest in the world–is held together by numerous signs, markers, bridges, and even huts for camping. The trail traverses numerous terrains, from farmland, to forests, sand and steep hills. It has a few parts that will be a challenge for many bikers, as well.
While there are many towns and access roads, the Biddi trail is not a light undertaking. Some stretches may require you to bush camp for rest or any mechanical problems that may arise. Be prepared to camp if you have to, and, of course, watch out for snakes.
Still up for the adventure? Schumacher Cargo can help ship your bike to Australia.
Stationary Bike Record:
While not exactly a scenic bike tour, it is itself an epic feat of pedaling. George Hood pedaled for 222:22.22, or 222 hours, 22 minutes and 22 seconds all on a stationary bike, beating the 200 hour benchmark previously set. Why on Earth would he do that? It was for a good cause. George shattered the record as a means of raising money for Gunnar Hotchkin, a soldier killed by an IED in Afghanistan.
In order to accomplish the feat Hood was allowed a quick 5-min break every hour, which he could accumulate. As he did when he took a 28-minute break for a 15-minute nap.
Want to receive quality education at a fraction of the cost in the US?Study in Australia!
The top universities in Australia are located around cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. These universities see a great influx of students relocating to Australia for further studies.
The existing American students studying in Australia have all achieved tremendous success after moving overseas from the USA to complete their program of education. So what are the different vectors for these top universities in Australia? What makes them so attractive to students abroad?
Schumacher Cargo, an International moving company who has relocated many people to Australia, provides a glimpse on some of the top universities in Australia.
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Relocating to Australia from US? Learn about the Australia health care system!
Australia health care programs are some of the best in the world. For people moving to Australia, it is imperative to gain an insight into Australian health care insurance policies. This will help you plan your medical coverage better.
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