The standards of living that a country has is something that is done on a comparative basis, that is, it is rated based on what the standards are in terms of what another country has. Australia is quite high up on the list as it offers one of the best standards of living in the entire world with the third lowest cost of living which makes it a great place to be. Due to these factors, it is no surprise that Australia has had many cities ranked as being incredibly desirable places to live.
The jobs that are available in Australia seem to be pretty consistent with the rest of the world or better. As with many other places, the jobs that are available are primarily located in the area of services instead of being dominated by manufacturing as times have progressed forward. However, this doesn't mean that all manufacturing jobs have been eliminated either because there are quite a few natural resources spread throughout Australia that make the jobs a necessity for the success and prosperity to happen.
Roughly 75% of the individuals working in Australia are involved somewhere in the service sector while the remaining 25% are involved in the manufacturing sector. The unemployment rate which may impact how you feel about the prospects of living in Australia is sitting pretty steadily at 5.2% of the total employable population.
The job market appears to be steady in terms of keeping individuals employed but it is also headed upwards for the earnings and potential to earn. In the past year alone the change in earnings for both the private and public sectors of employment have jumped up an average of 6% for everyone which is a healthy number to see when it comes to discussing finances. The primary job types that are needed are in the health care and information technology fields. The main two industries that drive the economy in Australia are both tourism and exports.
The prices of food depend on what type of food you're looking to purchase. Since lamb and beef are local for Australia they are generally cheaper and fish can also be affordable as well depending on where you are purchasing it. Other affordable staples include milk and fresh water. People who like to drink will be pleasantly surprised to know that alcoholic beverages make up a large portion of the economy in Australia. Some of the more expensive items include biscuits and cereals or beer instead of wine.
There are quite a few different options for people who desire housing in Australia. The country is in high need of more people to move there to stimulate the growth so whether you're looking for an apartment, a condo, or a house you will be able to find it. The great majority of people generally live in suburbs and in their own houses.
The price of housing in the cities is quite a bit more than the individuals who choose to live in the country with land surrounding them. The most expensive houses are found in Sydney and average around $528,500 while the cheapest area to live is in Hobart where the housing prices average quite a bit less at only $258,000. The prices directly reflect supply and demand. Utilities are also rather affordable and don't go beyond 100 euro on a monthly basis depending directly on usage of course.
The government is quite involved in Australia and as a result the taxes directly reflect this. All citizens are provided with health insurance and extra coverage can be obtained and get subsidized to make it affordable. The educational levels in Australia may also have an impact on the cost of living Australia has. Public school is available to all children and they are required to remain in school until the age of 17.
As a result of the excellent services provided the taxation is quite heavy. Individuals making under $25,000 but over $6,000 pay 15% while people making between $25,001-$75,000 will pay a base amount of $2,850 and then 30% of each dollar made over $25,000. From there it increases to people who make over $150,000 paying 45% of their income over that amount to taxes.