Racer's Lounge - Australia's prices V's America standard of living

We created a new website this week for our product check it out, it is a testosterone booster www.res100.com now on to the costs of living in Australia V's America.


Ok so i have been talking to a friend of mine in Colorado in the USA and was amazed how much it costs to liver over there.

Here are some stats currently with AGL here in Australia I am paying the following rates.

AGL Electricity NSW
Peak consumption 35.002 c/kWh
Shoulder consumption 27.225 c/kWh
Off-peak consumption 13.123 c/kWh
Service charge 86.097 c/day

Electricity Rates in Colorado:
Service charge $6.75 per month
Summer Season
Tier 1 $0.04604 kWh
Tier 2 $0.09000 kWh
Winter Season $0.04604 kWh

Petrol/fuel prices:
Ok now fuel we are all paying about $1.65 per L in Australia
in Colorado they are paying $3.70 per Gallon which = 97.7c per L

Natural Gas AGL NSW:
Supply Charge 47.498 c/day
Usage charges
First 41.096 MJ per day 2.7401 c/MJ
Next 49.315 MJ per day 1.6489 c/MJ
Next 189.041 MJ per day 1.6258 c/MJ
Next 2,465.753 MJ per day 1.6115 c/MJ
Next 10,964.384 MJ per day 1.5224 c/MJ
Thereafter 1.3772 c/MJ

Natural Gas Colorado:
Supply Charge $10.00 per month
$0.09418 per therm

1 therm = 105.5mj

So for gas with AGL you use 41.096 MJ @ 2.7401 c/MJ = 112.6c
Next 49.315 MJ @ 1.6489c/MJ = 81.315c
Next 15.089 MJ @ 1.6258c/MJ = 24.53c

Total 218.44c per therm with AGL


Colorado water rates:
$2.54 per 1000 gallons

Sydney Water rates:
service charge $36.19 per quarter
Usage charge per kL $2.103

ok so with sydney water if you use 3785.411 Liters which is = to 1000Gallons that will cost you $7.96 compared to only $2.54 in Colorado.



My Electricity Bill:
Ok so i have no idea about all the mumbo jumbo with AGL all these bullshit hours for energy use so im going to just do a basic bill here with AGL.

My average bill with AGL for electricity is about $380 remembering this bill will jump up another 18% come July 2012 when the rates go up so then it will be $448 So we will just call this $450 to round shit off.

Of this $450
the 90 days of service to property charge will be $77.48
We will call the bill a 50/50 split between peak and off peak as i dont have a bill i have no idea what my usage for this is so just 50/50
so $450 - $77.48 = $372.52

$372.52 / 2 = $186.26 for peak = 532kwh
$372.52 / 2 = $186.26 for Off peak = 1432kwh

So based on this i do a shit load of electricity use in the off peak.

Now this same bill would = this much in Colorado
service to property charge $18.49
532kwh in summer = $24.49
1432kwh in winter = $128.88

total bill in Colorado for 90 days = $171.86 compared to $450 in Sydney.


My Petrol/fuel:
Now Petrol i want to travel 500km/310 miles my car gets roughly 7.5L/1.98 Gallons per 100km/62 miles so a cost in Sydney to travel 500km/310 miles = $61.87
Now Gas in Colorado to travel 500km/310 miles same car gets 7.5L/1.98 Gallons per 100km/62 miles so a cost in Colorado to travel 500km/310 miles = $36.63


My Natural Gas:
Ok now AGL gas Bill i just got one of these and the cost was $103.38
supply charge for 90 days $42.74
usage 2213.05MJ @ 2.7401 c/MJ $60.64

This same bill in Colorado:
Supply charge for 90 days $29.59
usage 2213.05MJ = 20.97therm @ $0.09418 per therm = $1.97

Total bill $31.56 (obviously the use would be higher than this if you are using it for heating) But if you have a fire place then the usage would be the same as we only use this much gas only for hot water and cooking.


My Sub Totals:
So basically at the end of all these sums my current electricity bill is $450 and would only be $171.86 saving $278.14
My Fuel bill would go from $61.87 per 500km/310 miles to $36.63 saving me $25.24 per 500km/310 miles traveled.
My gas bill would go from $103.38 to $31.56 saving me $71.82

I have never paid a water bill in my life as i have always rented but based on stats the average water bill for 2 adults is around $100-$150 in Sydney.
This would be between $31.90 - $47.86 saving between $68.10 -$102.14 per bill if on Colorado Rates.

If I travel around 30,000km/18,641 miles per year so my fuel bill here will be $3712.20
If I travel around 30,000km/18,641 miles per year in Colorado my fuel bill will be $2197.80





My Summary:
If you use all the same amounts of Electricity, gas, water and petrol/fuel you will spend the following per year in Australia.

$6325.72 - $6525.72

If you use all the same in Colorado per year you will spend

$3139.08 - $3202.92


Total saving per year on utilities and petrol/fuel in Colorado $3322.80 - $3186.64




Correct me anywhere if I am wrong on these statements and figures as all the info i collected from electricity,gas,water,fuel providers websites and conversions from Gallons to Liters and Therm to MJ with online calculators.

Only thing you didn't have in there is the exchange rate, what is the value of the currency relating to each other (Can be a huge thing when comparing rates/expenses).

Only thing you didn't have in there is the exchange rate, what is the value of the currency relating to each other (Can be a huge thing when comparing rates/expenses).

At the moment we are very close to parity $100 USD = $96.69 AUD
When you go to the bank this will be about 98c-$1 Australian dollar as the banks never trade at the stock exchange rates always at least 2 cents higher.

So for instance if i were to move to the USA right now i would increase the amount of money i have by about 2%-3%

It may cost more to live, but id happily take australia over the usa any day

It may cost more to live, but id happily take australia over the usa any day

Any reasons why?
Where do you currently live?

What are some peoples food bills we have just me and the mrs so 2 adults and we usually spend $150-$170 per week on food add $$$ on top of this if we eat out.

It may cost more to live, but id happily take australia over the usa any day

Then, GTFO ya weasel.:jest:

Any reasons why?
Where do you currently live?

Im in indiana.


Its warm, its something different, the wildlife, the way of life and people are completely different, oh and who can argue with those kick ass aussie cars?!?!?!

Im in indiana.


Its warm, its something different, the wildlife, the way of life and people are completely different, oh and who can argue with those kick ass aussie cars?!?!?!

Well the biggest population here in Australia is in Sydney and over the last 3 months we have had over 70 shootings including several deaths, drive by shootings, shots fired at houses etc all gang related and all in the inner sydney suburbs. There was a time in January when there was something like 13 shootings in about 15 days.

We have that part of organised crime, middle eastern and bikie gangs that are thought to be behind this.

We are also about to put a price on carbon....yeah thats right we are about to tax carbon so the cost of everything is going up, thats why the electricity is going up 18% in july. This will also increase the cost of all living from food to fuel to going out to renting a movie all costs will go up as all related costs are going up. Pretty dumb thing to do 95% of Australians are against this tax yet our current government are putting it through.

Then, GTFO ya weasel.:jest:


Accepting donations!!!

bikie gangs

..led by Toecutter and Bubba Zanetti? ;)

..led by Toecutter and Bubba Zanetti? ;)

And the night rider lol :jest:

I've always wanted to go to australia, o.n. did you move there or are you from there or what?

Well the biggest population here in Australia is in Sydney and over the last 3 months we have had over 70 shootings including several deaths, drive by shootings, shots fired at houses etc all gang related and all in the inner sydney suburbs. There was a time in January when there was something like 13 shootings in about 15 days.

We have that part of organised crime, middle eastern and bikie gangs that are thought to be behind this.

We are also about to put a price on carbon....yeah thats right we are about to tax carbon so the cost of everything is going up, thats why the electricity is going up 18% in july. This will also increase the cost of all living from food to fuel to going out to renting a movie all costs will go up as all related costs are going up. Pretty dumb thing to do 95% of Australians are against this tax yet our current government are putting it through.

70 shootings in 90 days...70 shootings is a busy weekend in Chicago.

I could drive an R34 without worrying about it getting crushed...

70 shootings in 90 days...70 shootings is a busy weekend in Chicago.

or a family bbq in new orleans

I've always wanted to go to australia, o.n. did you move there or are you from there or what?

I have lived here my whole life

so i have to ask are the cops as bad as i hear about modified cars???

so i have to ask are the cops as bad as i hear about modified cars???

If your car is modified and you get pulled into an rbt or highway patrol more than likely they will look for something to defect you on. The key is not going to the hot spot areas etc so yeah it does suck

rbt? random breath test?

70 shootings in 90 days...70 shootings is a busy weekend in Chicago.

No shit, I remember back in 2009 there were over 450 shootings in 3 months with over 100 deaths, and that was in the winter months. Sydney doesn't sound all bad.

How are the income and property taxes down under?

Do the wages at least offset the cost of living?

It may cost more to live, but id happily take australia over the usa any day

Im in indiana.


Its warm, its something different, the wildlife, the way of life and people are completely different, oh and who can argue with those kick ass aussie cars?!?!?!

These are the same reasons I want to live there some day. At least for part of my life. You lookin for a roommate? ha :cheers:

Do the wages at least offset the cost of living?

The average wage here is $50,000 of this 9% is for your super (retirement) about 23% is tax. The average house price is 500,000 although that won't be the best of house in the greatest of area you are more likely looking at 650-750k for something decent

The average house price is 500,000 although that won't be the best of house in the greatest of area you are more likely looking at 650-750k for something decent

:jest::jest::jest::jest:

passsssssssssssssss


thats brutal!!

:jest::jest::jest::jest:

passsssssssssssssss


thats brutal!!

Yeah now you know why I am so amazed at the prices in the USA!

So what is the weekly food bill like over there for 2 adults per week?
Where are good places to live.

My friend lives in Denver CO and that looks great, does it have bad points to it?

What would you say the average wage is per year in America?

What would you say the average wage is per year in America?

I believe around $50k.

So what is the weekly food bill like over there for 2 adults per week?
Where are good places to live.

I believe around $50k.

A quick google search showed that the average income per person was about $26k in 2011.

Nah, couldn't pay me enough to live in Australia... less freedom than here in the states... and that's not saying much.

Ever since I seen Mad Max Ive wanted to visit Australia. . .

A quick google search showed that the average income per person was about $26k in 2011.

Guess I read household income then. Thanks for the info.

You guys need to go get Chopper Reid and turn him loose in Sydney. I think he is suppose to be in Tas now. I too want to visit Australia one day.

My friend lives in Denver CO and that looks great, does it have bad points to it?

gorgeous summers, tons of snow in the winter, better love the snow and cold to live up there. ive been twice, summer is absolutely gorgeous but i dont think i can handle the cold, then again, i do live in houston (very hot).

gorgeous summers, tons of snow in the winter, better love the snow and cold to live up there. ive been twice, summer is absolutely gorgeous but i dont think i can handle the cold, then again, i do live in houston (very hot).

what about crime and shootings etc?
we here in Australia think that if you live in the US you basically need a gun on you at all times as everyone has a gun where as here guns are illegal so only the bad guys have them, getting caught with just possession of a gun here now carries a maximum jail term of 14 years so crime is low when it comes to guns.

what about crime and shootings etc?
we here in Australia think that if you live in the US you basically need a gun on you at all times as everyone has a gun where as here guns are illegal so only the bad guys have them, getting caught with just possession of a gun here now carries a maximum jail term of 14 years so crime is low when it comes to guns.

In every major city in the U.S. there are parts of that city you don't want to go. Stay out of those areas, and you more then likely won't have a problem. Most of the shootings and or killings that happen here are somehow drug related, or gang related depending on city, and late at night. Conclusion: don't buy drugs from gang members late at night and you'll likely never have a problem.


Denver is not known as an unsafe city. But, it's a major city...you have to watch for the known bad areas, but by no means do you need to carry a weapon to go somewhere.

I've lived in a major city my whole life, and never owned, carried, or even fired anything more then a BB gun. There's been a few instances when I wish I had one, but still don't feel the need to carry one.


*Disclaimer* If yo ass moves herr n getz shot IT AIN'T MY FAULT

A quick google search showed that the average income per person was about $26k in 2011.

It depends on the question really.

That is the average, but it includes a lot of part time workers, teenagers, elderly walmart greeters, etc which brings down the average.

If the question was what is the average full time salary for people in their main wage earning years, it would be higher.

What's it like in Australia O.N.? Does it snow there in the winter? Do you get jersey shore there? Are kangaroos really assholes? What's this guys problem???http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/989874/#h86weC1gkljrygAG.03

What's it like in Australia O.N.? Does it snow there in the winter? Do you get jersey shore there? Are kangaroos really assholes? What's this guys problem???http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/989874/#h86weC1gkljrygAG.03

Well it all depends on where you live, it only really snows down in the snowy river area perrisher blue and thredbo.

Where i live about 45min south west of central sydney the temperate gets down to about an average of 6c/42.8f at night but can drop down to about 0c/32f sometimes about 15c/59f in the day during winter and then summer usually it can be anywhere from 25c/77f-35c/95f.

Yeah we get Jersey shore here but that is only available on foxtel (pay TV) thats a rip off too all channels per month its about $120.

Kangaroo's are fine only time you really ever see them is if you go to the bush area's and they usually stay away hiding, you do often see dead ones on the side of the road that have been hit by trucks or cars, if you do hit one it will destroy your car. The worst animal to hit in your car in a wombat its like hitting a 50kg/110lbs block of concrete this will just destroy your car and be unrepairable.

As for that video i remember seeing it on the news awhile back those kids if they got found would have been charged for animal cruelty which can often carry a jail sentence. We do take animal cruelty very seriously here.

What I've experienced many times and learned during my life is, if you're white, stay out of black neighborhoods. Every single solitary time that my friends and I ever went somewhere that we were the only white people, there were threats, harassment or fights, EVERY TIME.

Not trying to be a racist, it's just how it is and what I went through growing up.

I NORMALLY get on here for car talk........

But being an Aussie i will have to pass comment!

Guys, seriously great place to live & work the balance is possibly the best in the world!!!

O.N has talked the crime up, its shocking in oz if there is a robbery or someone had a gun.....OH MY GOD!!!

its real, we freak out.

Now..... location is also different, i own a house i paid $305K great house and area, pool the whole 9 yards in Queensland....Weather best in Australia 2 minutes from the beach!!!
earning $100k which i believe average wage is about $60k plus super of 9%

Car scene US WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!
ours is ok, but nothing compared to what i have seen and heard

I do believe thou, come to OZ for a day and you will want to stay for a year.......:chug::chug::chug:

Yeah but your in QLD mate try get a house near Sydney for 300k that isn't a shit hole.
Again regarding the crime have you heard about all the drive by's and shit we are getting here in Sydney it never use to happen all that often now it's almost every night it's enough to make another addition to the UnderBelly DVD's

I've always heard great things about Australia. Your gun laws would be a deal breaker for me though.

There are many great places to live in the states. What's your profession? Salary is highly dependent on your skill set. I would also guess taxes are lower here, but I could be wrong. No state income tax in Texas is nice.

I've always heard great things about Australia. Your gun laws would be a deal breaker for me though.

There are many great places to live in the states. What's your profession? Salary is highly dependent on your skill set. I would also guess taxes are lower here, but I could be wrong. No state income tax in Texas is nice.


Big time.

I have a ccw and carry all the time. I love my AR's. I couldn't give up my guns.

I love the freedom we have.....well, the regulated perceived notion of freedom anyways. lol


"You are free do do what you want, as long as you don't do what we say you can't do, otherwise, do what you want."

I just picture everyone in australia with the same hair cut, tan shorts and button up shirt as Steve Irwin . . .

I just picture everyone in australia with the same hair cut, tan shorts and button up shirt as Steve Irwin . . .

Crikey mate where do you think we live? the back or Bourke, we don't all dress like bogans....lol


did you see all the slang in that?...lol
Did it make sense reading that?...lol

Crikey mate where do you think we live? the back or Bourke, we don't all dress like bogans....lol


did you see all the slang in that?...lol
Did it make sense reading that?...lol

i'm an ignorant american, what do you expect haha.

Hell no!! http://io9.com/5903588/this-photo-of-a-spider-eating-a-15+foot+long-will-burn-into-your-brain

Hell no!! http://io9.com/5903588/this-photo-of-a-spider-eating-a-15+foot+long-will-burn-into-your-brain

haha thats awesome