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Currency

One Australian dollar A$ is divided into 100 cents. Coins are minted in values of 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents (silver coloured) and $1 and $2 (gold coloured). Australian notes are printed in values of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. It is advisable to obtain and familiarize yourself with some Australian coins and banknotes before arriving in Australia. It is not advisable to carry a lot of cash on you, but do have some so you don't have to exchange at the airport where fees and exchange rates are less competitive. To find out more about Australian currency, visit Note Printing Australia http://www.noteprinting.com Royal Australian Mint http://www.ramint.gov.au Reserve Bank of Australia http://www.rba.gov.au.

Cost of living

Four Australian cities, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, ranked amongst the world's top 10 desirable cities to live in, as reported by the UK's Economist Intelligence Unit's livability survey in October 2005. The survey looked at conditions in 127 cities, assessing nearly 40 indicators in five broad categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.

A report by Mercer Consulting (March 2005) ranked Australia's major cities in the world's top 30 for quality of life, with the cost of living in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth being less than half that of the world's most expensive cities. The analysis was based on an evaluation of 39 quality of life criteria for each city, including political, social, economic, and environmental factors, personal safety and health, education, transport, and other public services.

Just as people's incomes vary greatly, so does their ability to spend, and giving a meaningful 'one-for-all' guide on the cost of living is quite difficult. Cost of living in Australia is comparatively less expensive than in Europe, especially the UK. However, earnings are also lower and taxes higher. What will have a big bearing on your cost of living is your individual lifestyle. Prices for essentials such as food, drink and clothes are relatively low, with manufactured goods being generally expensive because many are imported. At the same time you can expect to pay more per year for property, rent, transport and food in Australia's east-coast cities, with Sydney being the most expensive. NSW Department of State and Regional Development has some good comparisons on http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/living.asp?cid=26 and further details can be seen on the Invest Australia website http://www.investaustralia.gov.au.

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Information courtesy of Sue Ellson, Founder of Newcomers Network and Dina Zavrski-Makaric, Sydney Representative of Newcomers Network and Personal Coach and Counsellor of Challenging Directions.

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