Considerations for moving overseas

[Wetdog]

Cannot for the life of me understand why so many Australian's pack up and move to dreary, damp, cold, expensive London. What am I missing? I've been there twice and don't get it.

I've lived in London for six years.

This is what you are missing:

Great work opportunities and generally higher pay for professionals, historically strong currency, travel (close proximity to mainland Europe, Africa, North America), many many restaurants, bars, pubs, food markets, incredible coffee scene, excellent food and wine options, awesome public transport, multi-cultural with very diverse range of people, wonderful history, world class museums, amazing architecture, world class domestic and international sporting events, the arts (theatre, music, comedy events) fantastic parks, safe city generally (by world standards, not Australian standards), don't need a car!

Yes, it's expensive. Although some things do cost more in Melbourne. For example, groceries and good quality beer and wine.

The weather is terrible. Although you do really enjoy and cherish those nice days.

No one place is perfect.

 

[Mootsy]

this isn't exactly overseas....

but recently stayed in geelong and loved it..

beach/city/outer suburbs all easy to get to, far less traffic, surf, sun, restaurants, shopping, deakin, cheaper housing..

west and north geelong all look about as good as mont albert in many areas and about 200K cheaper housing.

maybe this is all more about finding the locations that suit you the best, whether it's overseas or in our own country.

If London matches your personality and feels right then why not..

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

I've lived in London for six years.

This is what you are missing:

Great work opportunities and generally higher pay for professionals, historically strong currency, travel (close proximity to mainland Europe, Africa, North America), many many restaurants, bars, pubs, food markets, incredible coffee scene, excellent food and wine options, awesome public transport, multi-cultural with very diverse range of people, wonderful history, world class museums, amazing architecture, world class domestic and international sporting events, the arts (theatre, music, comedy events) fantastic parks, safe city generally (by world standards, not Australian standards), don't need a car!

Yes, it's expensive. Although some things do cost more in Melbourne. For example, groceries and good quality beer and wine.

The weather is terrible. Although you do really enjoy and cherish those nice days.

No one place is perfect.

Not sure why everyone who has lived in London feels the need to defend it when someone says they don't like it. In fact most people I've known that have lived in London have this sense of superiority over those that haven't. Not sure why that is.

 

[wadistance]

this isn't exactly overseas....

but recently stayed in geelong and loved it..

beach/city/outer suburbs all easy to get to, far less traffic, surf, sun, restaurants, shopping, deakin, cheaper housing..

west and north geelong all look about as good as mont albert in many areas and about 200K cheaper housing.

maybe this is all more about finding the locations that suit you the best, whether it's overseas or in our own country.

If London matches your personality and feels right then why not..

I've always said that if I didn't have the great job and apartment that I currently do in Sydney, I'd live in Newcastle or Wollongong in a flash. As soon as you leave the beach bubble over here it gets WAAAAAY too busy

 

[Wetdog]

Not sure why everyone who has lived in London feels the need to defend it when someone says they don't like it. In fact most people I've known that have lived in London have this sense of superiority over those that haven't. Not sure why that is.

I was just answering your question. After all, this is the Question and Answer thread, right?

I don't feel superior just because I live in London. There are many great places on this planet to live. IMO, London is just one of them.

I acknowledge that you would have got a good sense of London on your trips. But a vacation is not the same as living here. They are completely different experiences.

At the end of the day, this is all subjective. It depends on the individual's needs, interests and life as to whether they would like living in a certain city.

 

[sataris]

Terrifying, but worth it.

Moved to Singapore, so I can travel through SE Asia cheaply and easily.

Also note, I highly suggest visiting the city for a few weeks before deciding to move/take a job there.

I acknowledge that you would have got a good sense of London on your trips. But a vacation is not the same as living here. They are completely different experiences.

This is because you enjoyed London before you moved there, (I assume, and therefore were open to moving there).
Conversely, if you didn't enjoy London like Drakescoffeecake or numerous friends of mine as well, there's zero chance of you moving there.

At the end of the day, this is all subjective. It depends on the individual's needs, interests and life as to whether they would like living in a certain city.

Yep, people like to rail on SG for numerous things, but at the end of the day. I like it here.

 

[FootyJunkie]

will Brexit impact London life at all? job prospects etc?

 

[Stocks_go_Up]

Terrifying, but worth it.

Moved to Singapore, so I can travel through SE Asia cheaply and easily.

That humidity though

 

[sataris]

That humidity though

I like humidity, makes you feel like your on holiday.

 

[00Stinger]

Terrifying, but worth it.

Moved to Singapore, so I can travel through SE Asia cheaply and easily.

Also note, I highly suggest visiting the city for a few weeks before deciding to move/take a job there.

Great city Singapore, one of the best.

I would love to live in Singapore, but housing over there is riculous to rent/buy, isn't it?

 

[sataris]

Great city Singapore, one of the best.

I would love to live in Singapore, but housing over there is riculous to rent/buy, isn't it?

Like all things it depends,

Rent is insane (unless you can get your employer to pay for it), but most everything else can be done quite cheaply if you choose to

Can get a 2BR somewhat close to the CBD for around $2500SGD/m

Which sounds like a lot, but you won't get a work visa to move here unless your on more than $6000SGD/m.

Forget about buying a car though, there's like a 300% tax and 10 year lifespan , so defs not worth it.

The public transport kicks ass so it's not really needed

 

[00Stinger]

Like all things it depends,

Rent is insane (unless you can get your employer to pay for it), but most everything else can be done quite cheaply if you choose to

Can get a 2BR somewhat close to the CBD for around $2500SGD/m

Which sounds like a lot, but you won't get a work visa to move here unless your on more than $6000SGD/m.

Forget about buying a car though, there's like a 300% tax and 10 year lifespan , so defs not worth it.

The public transport kicks ass so it's not really needed

$6k a month, is only $72k a year. So i would think that would be the mIn you would want before moving. Also $600 a week for somewhere near the cbd is cheaper than I expected tbh.

Yeah i know cars are super expensive there, but the train system is awesome and taxis are dirt cheap

What are their tax rates like?

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[sataris]

$6k a month, is only $72k a year. So i would think that would be the mIn you would want before moving. Also $600 a week for somewhere near the cbd is cheaper than I expected tbh.

Yeah i know cars are super expensive there, but the train system is awesome and taxis are dirt cheap

What are their tax rates like?

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https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Individuals/Locals/Working-Out-Your-Taxes/Income-Tax-Rates/

on $120,000 you'd be paying about $8000/yr in tax.

It's the main reason why I moved tbh.

I'm working about 1 month/yr for the government, instead of 6 as I would be in Aus.

 

[00Stinger]

https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Individuals/Locals/Working-Out-Your-Taxes/Income-Tax-Rates/

on $120,000 you'd be paying about $8000/yr in tax.

It's the main reason why I moved tbh.

I'm working about 1 month/yr for the government, instead of 6 as I would be in Aus.

Geez they are generious tax charges.

I expected thm to be similar to ours tbh

 

[sataris]

Geez they are generious tax charges.

I expected thm to be similar to ours tbh

Yeah well, they don't have a minimum wage, nor do they have any pensions.....

Sooo you can save a bit of money that way...

 

[00Stinger]

Yeah well, they don't have a minimum wage, nor do they have any pensions.....

Sooo you can save a bit of money that way...

Really? Didn't know they didnt have a minimum wage

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[sataris]

Really? Didn't know they didnt have a minimum wage

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But they do all have government subsidized housing, so no homeless people at least.

 

[00Stinger]

Yeah

But they do all have government subsidized housing, so no homeless people at least.

I know about the subsididzied housing, but my understanding is you have to be married to receive this.

Either way the extremely low tax rates makes Singapore much more appealing for foreigners

 

[sataris]

Yeah

I know about the subsididzied housing, but my understanding is you have to be married to receive this.

Either way the extremely low tax rates makes Singapore much more appealing for foreigners

and corporations

I'm looking at you BHP

 

[wadistance]

So where does the income for services come from?

Also, they are an ageing demographic. Could be issues soon with elderly aged care

 

[VineyIsLORD]

Learn the language. If you want to move somewhere badly enough you'll do it.

I actually tried doing this. Much like yourself i wanted to live in Europe but cant stand London (or England more generally) and Irelands economy was lol at the time so i tried mainland Europe.

Basically every job in Netherlands wanted me to speak at least Dutch and English, preferring I speak French and German also.

Needless to say my options for suitable employment were limited.

I could have washed dishes in Berlin for 2 euro an hour but **** that also. Most decent jobs in Berlin wanted a German speaker.

England probably would have been better. But its, well, its England. But it definitely has the best job oppurtunities for Aussies by far. And a strong currency that makes travelling around Europe pretty easy.

 

[norway blue]

Enjoyed reading this thread. Did the OP move to England?


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[Deliverance]

Applied for a job the other day in the UK and it's got me thinking about what things I'd need to consider if I had to move. Bearing in mind that this would be my first job out of uni and that I haven't lived out of home what things would I need to think about?

Things I've already thought about have been getting a SIM card, health insurance, bank account, International drivers license, and some of the more obvious things such as an apartment etc. Is there anything else I haven't thought of?

What are other people's experience's of moving overseas for work?

Enjoyed reading this thread. Did the OP move to England?


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Nope, he decided it was a damp, dark shithole and stayed home.
Nah, don't know, let's ask him.

 

[norway blue]

You’re probably right deli . He’s trudging around Finsbury Park with soggy boots n wet socks in drizzling depressing rain dreaming of the sun and blue skies back home [emoji5].


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[revo333]

As someone who lived in London for nearly 5 years, its not a place you can immediately fall in love with but once you settle in, you have so many options on your door step that it really is a fantastic place to live.

I feel the same with Tokyo, for being a tourist there are plenty of other countries i'd rather go to but if i got to choose to live in a city, Tokyo would nearly be my first choice.