If you’re thinking about moving to Australia, you should know that it’s not all kangaroos and koalas! There are some serious pros and cons to living in Australia. We’ll explore them below.
High standard of living
Perhaps the best thing about living in Australia is the high standard of living. The country boasts some of the highest wages in the world, and Australians enjoy a better quality of life than people in many other countries. According to a recent report by the World Bank, Australia ranks fourth out of 189 economies when it comes to per capita GDP – meaning that you’ll likely have more money than you know what to do with.
Australians also enjoy relatively high employment rates; most citizens who want jobs can find them without much difficulty or training (although this may not be true if you’re looking for work in certain fields such as nursing). The vast majority of workers are employed full-time, although there is still some unemployment among certain groups like young people or those who have recently moved away from home after finishing school/university studies.
The education system in Australia is one area where residents can expect exceptional results; almost all children attend school until they’re at least 17 years old (typically between ages 6–18), which means that their literacy rates tend to be above average compared to other nations around the world – not only does this increase their ability level but also gives them an advantage over those who aren’t so lucky!
Beautiful natural landscapes
If you’re looking to get away from it all and enjoy the great outdoors, Australia is a fantastic choice. There are so many places to explore that it can be overwhelming at first. You could potentially spend your whole life exploring this massive landmass!
The Blue Mountains west of Sydney are a popular tourist destination for hikers and nature lovers alike—and for good reason! The mountains feature riverside hikes with breathtaking views of forests, waterfalls, and wildlife. You’ll also find plenty of opportunities to climb cliffs and rocks near the waterfalls if you’re feeling adventurous (and make sure you don’t fall off!).
Multicultural society
One of the most important things to know about living in Australia is that it’s a multicultural society. This means you’ll be surrounded by people from all over the world, and you’ll get to learn about different cultures, customs and traditions.
However, because Australia is such a diverse place, there are some downsides for those who are not used to this kind of environment. Some people may feel like they don’t belong or like they’re being discriminated against because they don’t speak English as well as other Australians do. If this happens to you, it’s important that you talk with other Australians about your experiences so that they can help out as much as possible!
Excellent healthcare system
The healthcare system in Australia is one of the best in the world. All citizens are eligible for free healthcare, with no copayments or other costs involved. The government funds this through tax revenue, and there are no fees associated with receiving treatment at the doctor’s office or hospital. This means that even if you’re not an Australian citizen, you can still receive medical care without having to worry about paying out of pocket.
Australians are lucky enough to have access to some of the most highly trained medical professionals in the world. Doctors, nurses and other staff members undergo rigorous training before working with patients; they must pass exams before being allowed into practice so their skills stay current and up-to-date with new developments in their field; moreover many doctors continue studying throughout their careers so they can learn more about diseases as well as new treatments available today (For example: stem cell therapy).
Good education system
If you’re a parent, the quality of your child’s education is probably one of the most important factors in deciding where to move. Australia has a relatively high standard of education that is available across the country. It also offers programs designed for students with special needs such as dyslexia and autism that are not available in other countries.
Unfortunately, many Australian children don’t have access to good schools because they live too far away from urban areas or because their parents can’t afford private school fees (which cost around A$20-30k per year).
Outdoor lifestyle
Australia is a very outdoorsy country, and as such, its citizens enjoy a lot of time outdoors. It’s not uncommon to see people doing things like going for hikes, kayaking or fishing on weekends. This is because the weather in Australia is pretty mild most of the year round, so you can go outside pretty much any time you want!
In addition to this, there are also many different kinds of outdoor activities that you can do in different parts of Australia (depending on where you live). Some states have extensive national parks that contain mountains and forests where camping is possible during summer months; others have more low-lying regions with beaches where surfing can be enjoyed during winter months. There’s literally no end to what you could do if you wanted!
Strong economy
In 2017, Australia was ranked as the 11th most prosperous country in the world. The Australian economy is growing at a rate of 2.6% per year and its currency, the Australian dollar (AUD), is one of the strongest currencies in the world.
In addition to having a strong economy, Australia also has:
- A large number of job opportunities for those looking for work;
- An excellent healthcare system that supports medical research;
- An education system that ensures all students have access to affordable education regardless of their background or financial situation; and
- An outdoor lifestyle that includes abundant wildlife and natural landscapes.
Low crime rate
The next benefit of living in Australia is the low crime rate. The country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, with less than one-third of people reporting being victims of crime each year.
In fact, this statistic has been increasing over time as well. In 2005, just 3% of people said they had been the victim of a violent crime (e.g., assault or robbery), while today that figure is around 5%. The data shows that there are more instances where people are affected by white-collar crimes such as fraud or corruption than by traditional street crimes such as assault and property damage.
Friendly people
Living in Australia means you’ll have the pleasure of meeting a diverse group of people from all over the globe. There are many cultures to explore, from Italian food at your local cafe to Japanese clothing stores on your street corner.
You might be surprised by how friendly Aussies are too! We tend to expect the worst from others, but when you think about it, we live in one of the safest countries on earth and our healthcare system is one of the best in terms of quality and availability.
Abundant wildlife
Australia is home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. You’ll find kangaroos, koalas, dingoes, wombats and emus roaming the bushlands. The Australian outback is also home to crocodiles and other dangerous animals. You may hear a loud “caw” or two from one of the many species of native birds that call Australia home.
In addition to its plentiful wildlife, Australia offers an impressive array of natural landscapes such as beaches on the east coast and snow-capped mountains in the west—you can find it all here!
High cost of living
Some things that are expensive in Australia:
- Renting a house or an apartment
- Buying a car (you need to buy new, because used cars are too expensive)
- Eating out at restaurants
You’ll find that many things cost more in Australia than they do back home. If you’re used to paying less for everything, then you may be caught off-guard by the price tag on some items. Your best bet is to expect prices to be higher, and plan accordingly before going on your first shopping spree!
High taxes
Taxes are high, especially when you start making a good income. You may find yourself paying more in taxes than you’re used to as an American citizen. The cost of living is also higher than the US, particularly if your family was used to an American standard of living. Housing is expensive and even if you can afford it, there’s often not enough supply to meet demand so there might be long wait lists for social housing (it could take years). Transport costs are also high – petrol prices were up 50% over 2015 levels by March 2016 – and public transport fares have been increasing steadily since 2008 despite cuts in ticket prices during 2014/15 budget announcements.
Education fees are another big expense that can add up quickly. In order to attend primary school (kindergarten), Australian children must pay around $7000 per year; this goes up significantly once they reach high school level (grade 7-12). Children who attend private schools often have even higher fees due to their smaller class sizes and access to better facilities such as science labs etc., which may not always be available at government institutions.
Long distances and travel time
- Long distances and travel time. In Australia, you’ll often have to travel far from one place to another. This can affect your daily life in many ways, such as:
- Travel time to and from work. The average commute in Sydney is around 40 minutes. If you’re not used to driving in a city like this, it could take some getting used to!
- Travel time to and from school or university for students aged 18 years old or younger (or older).
- Travel time between cities for those who don’t live near their workplace but do work nearby; this will depend on the distance between cities where jobs are available, how much money they make per hour worked out of town versus at home with lower wages offered by employers there (if any), whether they own a car or not (as well as its cost), etcetera…
Extreme weather conditions
In the event of an extreme weather event, it’s important to stay safe and take care of yourself first. Consider what supplies you might need in addition to those already on hand. Are there any special dietary needs? Are there existing medical conditions that require additional attention? If so, have a plan in place for how you’ll cope with these issues during an emergency situation.
Don’t forget that other people may need help as well! If your neighborhood is under water or experiencing severe heat, offer assistance to anyone who needs it—even if they’re not immediate neighbors or acquaintances. Make sure everyone has enough food, water and shelter before getting back home yourself; even if your own house is still standing after a flood, there could be damage inside that makes it uninhabitable for now (or even permanently).
When returning after an emergency passes through your area:
Limited job opportunities in certain areas
If you’re a city slicker, you might find yourself feeling pretty isolated in an area without many job opportunities. If you want to live in a city, but that city doesn’t have many job opportunities available to you, it will be hard for you to make ends meet. This can be especially difficult if your spouse also works full time as well and you are both trying to support yourselves financially on one income.
Some parts of Australia are more developed than others. For example, Sydney has a lot of jobs available because it’s such an important economic hub for the country; however, other areas may not have as many job opportunities or may even lack them altogether! It’s important for anyone considering moving overseas (especially when relocating from their home country) to do their research beforehand so they know exactly what kind of lifestyle they’ll need once they arrive overseas.
Limited housing options in major cities
If you want to live in a major city, the limited housing options are going to be a problem. Prices are high and there are long waiting lists for government-owned housing. However, private rental properties can be expensive as well.
It’s not as bad as it sounds though – if you don’t mind living further out from the city centre or in less desirable suburbs then this isn’t such an issue.
Limited cultural diversity in certain areas
If you’re looking for an opportunity to meet people from different cultural backgrounds, then you may be disappointed if you move to Australia. It’s very common for people of diverse backgrounds to live in the same area in Australia, but there is still a lack of cultural diversity in certain areas.
As Australia was built by immigrants from all over the world, its culture has adopted elements from each country and region where its inhabitants have come from. However, this has resulted in some areas being less culturally diverse than others—such as Western Sydney (which includes suburbs such as Bankstown), where only 3% of residents speak a language other than English at home.
Risk of natural disasters
You may find yourself wondering how a country with such a gorgeous landscape, friendly people and abundant wildlife could be beset by so many natural disasters. Well, here’s the answer: Australia has been around for a long time—and it’s had plenty of time to build up quite an impressive collection of natural hazards.
Australia is located in the Ring of Fire, where volcanoes are common and earthquakes occur frequently. In fact, as you can see above, there are more than 14 active volcanoes on the island continent alone!
Sometimes these eruptions cause tsunamis that hit nearby coasts; sometimes they release toxic gases that affect millions downwind; sometimes they just scare everyone silly because they have no idea what’s going on (as was the case after Mount Tambora erupted in Indonesia in 1815). Either way, this is not something you should deal with lightly—you should know what steps to take if disaster strikes while living abroad in Australia!
Risk of encountering venomous animals
The risk of encountering venomous animals is high in Australia. It’s a jungle out there, and you’re not always safe from the wildlife that lives there. If you’re hiking or camping in Australia, it’s essential to be aware of the dangers lurking around every corner — and to have a contingency plan if things go wrong.
Most venomous animals are associated with snakes (of course), but spiders can also deliver potent bites as well! You’ll want to avoid these creatures at all costs:
- Spiders: There are over 1,200 different species of spider found throughout Australia—and many of them are considered dangerous enough to carry lethal doses of poison within their fangs and jaws. The funnel web spider is one such example; its bite can cause paralysis and death within 30 minutes if left untreated by antivenom serum administered by medical professionals (which aren’t available everywhere).
- Snakes: Australia has upwards of 100 different types of snakes ranging from tiny mice-sized critters up through giant pythons capable of swallowing small crocodiles whole! While most Australian serpents aren’t aggressive toward humans—especially those who leave them alone—there are some deadly exceptions…
Risk of environmental pollution and degradation
Many people would be surprised to hear that Australia has some of the worst environmental pollution in the world. There are many factors contributing to this issue, including:
- Agriculture and industry
- Urban development
- Mining operations
- Deforestation (including native forest logging)
These activities can have a negative impact on air quality, water quality, soil health and biodiversity. This means that we have less fresh water available for drinking and recreation; our oceans are becoming overfished; there is an increase in harmful greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming; our landfills are filling up with waste products that should not be sent there (e.g., electronic devices).
Conclusion
So, if you’re considering moving to Australia, we recommend you do your research first, and then make the decision that’s right for you. We know there are lots of good reasons to live in Australia: it has a high standard of living, beautiful natural landscapes, multicultural society and excellent healthcare system. But if these things don’t matter much to you personally, or if they outweigh the costs associated with living here (including long distances and travel time), then maybe it isn’t such a great idea!
