COST OF LIVING SYDNEY vs LOS ANGELES (Rent, Utilities, & Dining) // Which City is More Expensive?

[@truetoskyblue6952]

The last point about health is the 'elephant in the room'. Get sick in Sydney and top health care in a public hospital is totally free.

[@petermcculloch4933]

Yeah, adding health insurance to the cost of living in Sydney was deceitful.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Not sure if you guys know but public health care is only available to those with Permanent Residency & Citizens.

[@rh3749]

Thanks for the video. I moved to Sydney from San Diego in July just as Sydney went into lockdown. Despite that, I have enjoyed being in Australia. I hope to see more once omicron subsides.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Welcome to Sydney. I hope you're enjoying it now. Did you see any similarities as to what I had noticed or anything you discovered?

[@rh3749]

@@SophiesTravelSecrets I created two separate lists: Top 10 things Australia does better than the US and Top 10 things the US does better than Australia, which I posted as a comment on one of the expat US/AUS KZbin videos and it generated some discussion. One thing I haven't posted is pleasant surprises I've found in Sydney so far: amazing rainbow lorikeets and friendly sulphur-crested cockatoos; and availability of some reminders of the US like original glazed Krispy Kreme donuts at Woolworth's plus crunchy peanut butter.

[@k4metal]

Uber has gone up in LA so much. Between Weho and Santa Monica sometimes prices is $45. It’s crazy! Average is between $20-$25 at this point, not to mention tipping. Also loved the break down, super clear and awesome!

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Wow, that's expensive! My friends were saying that they started driving everywhere instead of taking an Uber. It just wasn't worth it cost wise when you go out to dinner. Really glad you enjoyed the video. I thought it was an interesting insight into the cost of living between both cities! x

[@nickhowlett738]

You do have to pay for the usage of water in Tasmania, just not the rate side of it when renting. We pay $120 (fort) for our electricity to cover our bill

[@matthewbrown6163]

As a vodka drinker in the 90's I loved the 1 gallon sized bottles of Vodka in the USA. I never bothered with Duty Free until coming home as the prices in USA were just too cheap.

[@rayb3000]

"with regards to" not" in regards for"

[@tonycollins968]

Thank you for sharing. Blessings from Cherrybrook, Sydney, Australia.

[@HairByJamesAnnabel]

Thank you so much for sharing, i have been considering wether to move to Sydney or Los Angeles

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

You're very welcome! Hopefully it gave you a bit of insight.

[@byronchavarria4954]

Why Does Australia 🇦🇺 Charge Rent Weekly

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

They actually get more money per month when they do that as they charge 52 weeks per year then average it out per month. Sneaky!

[@lorenzlorenzo1975]

I don't care how much money I make or how much I pay for drinks in bars. Safety is the major factor in deciding on where to live - Sydney hands down.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Of course, safety is very important in any city you choose to live. I find Sydney a very safe city to live in. Much safer than LA.

[@leonzerr4647]

We should consider, that the currency’s are rated different. Right now USD is rated higher than AUD, so from that perspective LA might be more expensive. 10 USD = 13,34 AUD

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Leon, thank you for your comment and watching! I actually did not use conversion rates for the purpose of this video as I was comparing the cost of living as a whole. Basically saying that the price of rent, bills, and overall cost of living were very similar once compared side by side. Of course, this based on my lifestyle and someone else’s living costs would be completely different. It was just a real finding I discovered when I moved. I hope that makes sense? 😉

[@englishkiwi3051]

I live in Auckland which although expensive is much cheaper than both LA or Sydney :) Out of interest is it such a bad thing if spirits are so expensive? Surely that discourages binge drinking of very high alcohol drinks?

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Totally understand why the Australian govt puts a high tax on liquor. Just always a shock to the wallet. 😉

[@Clickybux]

Did you consider the fluctuating USD/AUD exchange rate as well in your calculations? Also in LA how can avg salary be $78k USD if minimum wage is $13 USD an hour? 🤔

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Tom, thank you for your comment and watching! I actually did not use conversion rates for the purpose of this video as I was comparing the cost of living as a whole. Basically saying that the price of rent, bills, and overall cost of living were very similar once compared side by side in dollar amount (not converted). Of course, this based on my lifestyle and someone else’s living costs would be completely different. It was just a real finding I discovered when I moved: i.e a coffee would be $5 AUD in Sydney and $5 USD in LA. I hope that makes sense? As for the avg salary, this was taken from a website which I have linked in the description box as a source. I hope it all makes sense! 😉

[@AgentAO7]

Thank God I no longer drink alcohol.. I usually just drink on special occassions. The last time I did was on New Year’s Eve.. What about coffee/tea there? I heard coffee is a big thing in Aussie..

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Coffee is definitely huge here! Price is around $4.50-$6 depending where you go in Sydney.

[@raycrou8837]

Why compare AUD to USD on adjacent columns. It's supposed to be like for like. Either you compare both cities in AUD or USD to account for the exchange rate.🤷‍♂️

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Ray, thank you for your comment and watching! I actually did not use conversion rates for the purpose of this video as I was comparing the cost of living as a whole. Basically saying that the price of rent, bills, and overall cost of living were very similar once compared side by side in dollar amount (not converted). Of course, this based on my lifestyle and someone else’s living costs would be completely different. It was just a real finding I discovered when I moved: i.e a coffee would be $5 AUD in Sydney and $5 USD in LA. I hope that makes sense? 😉

[@benlawrence984]

Thanks for this video was very helpful for me as I’ll hopefully be moving to Sydney this year .

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

You're very welcome! Where are you moving from?

[@benlawrence984]

@@SophiesTravelSecrets Nottingham, England 👍 what's the average wage in Australia please

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

@@benlawrence984 Of course this would be dependent on your industry, skills & location but as of now, they're saying the average wage has climbed to $90k. www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/australias-average-fulltime-salary-now-above-90000/news-story/68fbcb28a6f63771cf236e90472a1eaa

[@AdamPickett-k9o]

When you outline costs in Sydney (e.g. rent) in “$”, do you mean US or AU dollars? Or are you using same currency for both? It’s confusing describing average salary in different currencies but then expenses in one currency.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

When I am taking about Sydney, I am referring to figures in AUD and when I am talking about Santa Monica, I am referring to figures in USD. Basically a coffee in Sydney was $4 AUD and a coffee in Santa Monica was $4 USD - which made me realize the price is the same figure (regardless of the conversion). I hope that makes sense?

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thank you for the video.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

You’re welcome Daniel!

[@nunyabisniz8047]

Don't use average, use median for comparing salaries

[@peterbreis5407]

In L.A. (or anywhere in the States) add all the local taxes and tips. I didn't find it cheaper at all. And you have to explain that A$10 is only US$7. Also transport (trains, buses, trams and ferries) in Sydney is not only really good, it is really cheap. Sydney's public transport system is vast extending hundreds of kilometres to the north, south and west which you can travel for less than $10.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Peter, agreed once you add tax and tips in the U.S., it does add up quickly! I actually did not use conversion rates for the purpose of this video as I was comparing the cost of living as a whole. Basically saying that the price of rent, bills, and overall cost of living were very similar once compared side by side (i.e. what $20 in AUD gets you and what $20 USD gets you). It was just a real finding I discovered when I moved. I hope that makes sense? 😉 I love the fact that Sydney's public transport system is super affordable and reliable. Use it almost everyday!

[@dalangie]

How cool, you live in Bondi. I rented an apartement there for 9 days in April at the end of my Australia-trip. Do you know if there are any free or cheap parking lots in Bondi if I would like to rent a car for 2 or 3 days? I heard parking is extremely expensive there. Greetings from Germany

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

You can find free all day street parking a bit always from the beach. You might have to walk 10-15 min but it’s exists!

[@DianneSmee]

Hi Sophie. Great video. Can you provide your expenses list please per week?

[@markleon411]

I have never lived in an apartment building that doesn't come with an allocated parking space. I didn't know there were some that don't have that.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

It's actually very common in Sydney that apartments do not come with a parking space. Parking can be quite difficult around Sydney.

[@markleon411]

@@SophiesTravelSecrets Do you have the figures on this? I have lived in many apartments all around Sydney and haven't found one without allocated parking yet. I'm sure there are some but, I doubt that you could call that, "common".

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

I am sorry I do not have figures. This is more based within the Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, etc). Best to have a look on Domain.com to get a better idea.

[@Sunlife3]

Great video 📹👍

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Thank you!

[@PaulVanDerWel]

Great video. Just wanted to add that the price of a bottle liquor is even more expensive in Australia than it might at first appear. This due to the fact that Australian liquor bottles only contain 700ml of liquid versus 750ml in the States.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Thanks so much Paul! Wow! I did not know that! Good pick up!

[@iangrantham8300]

Actually internationally manufactured liquors are a standard size the world over so that is ridiculous and if it's too expensive ( which it is because it is tqaxed to the hilet) then BUY good quality wine..which is absurdly CHAEP!

[@gregmayo]

I have to agree with you alcohol is really expensive

[@petermcculloch4933]

None of these reviewers are aware Australians eat inexpensively in pubs ( counter meals ) and in clubs.Vietnamese, Cambodian etc. Is also filling and cheap.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Peter, thank you for your comment. An average meal at a pub is still around the $25 mark. Totally agree that Vietnamese can be cheap too.

[@carllosangeles9586]

fucking lol at those LA prices. Add another 30% onto that in the past 6 months. Can't wait to get back to Sydney. LA has lame as sh*t tech jobs, got a new position in Sydney paying more, although imo Sydney will always cost more than LA but thats because the quality of life is higher.

[@alexbay7885]

Great video, simple and informative! I've been to Sydney and Bondi, and I love it. I also loved the Aussies for being chilled and beautiful girls. Unfortunately I've never been to US even for holiday. I love the Ocean so I guess Santa Monica is the one for me especially that I think I get paid more in US as a pipeline engineer consultant. However I am worried about superficial or distorted attitudes (I moved to London running away from depressed French thinking Brits are like Americans but...). I love to have an active life (Sport), socializing(to make friends) and safety (to have family and kids one day). Please make another video about these. Some people tell me Califirnians are not as friendly as I was thinking, and can be fake. Getting a job in London is a nightmare as Brits are very afraid of hiring someone they don't know. Is US the same?

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Not going to lie, Hollywood is full of fake people but some of my best friends come from LA and we've been friends for 14 years so it really depends who you choose to surround yourself with. There are definitely many nice people in California. My advise if you're thinking about moving, go to visit for a couple weeks, get an airbnb and see if you like the lifestyle.

[@lear60man]

More like $4k/month for a semi decent 1bed 1ba apt in Santa Monica.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Yep! Rent is nuts now.

[@iangrantham8300]

Bondi is a BAD example the AVERAGE salary in Sydney is actually $106,000 per year according to the Australian bureau of statistics.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Ian, thank you for advising the current average salary according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In the video, I did mention that I used Payscale.com to look up the average salaries between the two cities.

[@diegocardona7337]

$106000 a year in Sydney???! Do you live in a bubble or maybe in a different city, I call it Bullshit, the average salary in Sydney is $55k, I actually think 76k salary is kind of above the average, I’m pretty sure most of the people I know are not making 65k, now $106k is high income considering that a manager can make in average somewhere between 80k to 100k are you telling me that everybody here is a manager?

[@quentinhuxley5010]

Do you like Sydney and have you been to the other cities?

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

I love Sydney & I have traveled quite a bit around Australia. Each city is quite different however Sydney will always be my home. :)

[@ams9439]

Hello Sophie, is Bondi an expensive city, i think i heard one vlogger mentioning it as a place where all the celebrities live? So the major chunk of salary goes to apartment rentals in everywhere 😀. When you say avg salary is a around 76k, I'm assuming its 76k/year and not per month. So that would be around 6 to 6.5k/month. Would there be a tax cut also on that? What would be the take home then? So with all the expenses, an average individual can save upto 2 to 2.5k a month? From this video i got my business idea, to import Smirnoff from Russia to Australia 🤣. and open wine bars in US🤣, they both seems profitable.!! Hope the lockdown there will be lifted soon, can't wait to see your travel videos. Tc and stay safe.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Again! Bondi is definitely an expensive city. The major celebrities actually live in Vaucluse or Watson's Bay for incredible views and the fact the areas are a bit more secluded. You are right, the avg salaries mentioned are annual before tax and that a major portion of one's salary will go towards rent if you live in one of these suburbs. For salary calculations, there are calculators online that can break down a person's take-home salary by month / week / day to help with budgeting. Very handy. Haha, looks like you got a head start on a business model! I too can't wait to start traveling again! Counting down the days. Take care and stay safe!

[@Clickybux]

Tax can be between 20-30% depending on salary

[@iangrantham8300]

dont know when this was made ..but the min wage is about $24 an hour in Aus now..the exchange rate is NOT relative it is about local costs.......the price to dine out is also relative... there are many very good places less than what this lady pays...........she should move out of the Eastern suburbs thats for sure. She should also do more than go out eating!

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi Ian, this video was made in July 2021 and everything that was quoted was relevant at the time of filming. When I was giving my comparisons, I was focusing on the cost of living as a whole with pricing in AUD & USD (I did not convert any of the figures mentioned. Thus, an exchange rate was not used). I found after living in both Santa Monica and Bondi, the actual cost of living was quite similar (this is based on my lifestyle in both cities and I did mention that others most probably would have different lifestyles). Of course, my video is not a blanket example of the cost of living in Sydney vs Los Angeles overall (these are both very large cities). Nor for everyone's lifestyle, income, housing or interests (that would be too hard as there are so many factors to consider). I did mention that I would be comparing what the cost is like living in similar suburbs: Bondi vs Santa Monica. I completely AGREE there are MANY amazing places to eat in both Sydney and in Los Angeles that are not expensive. However, if you go out to a bar or a cafe around Bondi or Santa Monica, these are the average prices. Thought to mention that I do have many interest other than eating 😂 but sorry to say, I do love my food. Regardless, thank you for watching.

[@fearnobodyandtrustnoone]

Are you still here living in Sydney?

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Sure am! :)

[@anthonyhumphrey2540]

What can you say about a person who never been

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

@@anthonyhumphrey2540 Sydney is a beautiful city located on a harbour. While there are many beautiful oceanside beaches to visit, there are also many beautiful harbour beaches & coves to discover. I like to think that Sydney has a nice mix of European & Western influence. The cafe culture is strong here with a lot of outdoor cafes. People are friendly & always down for a friendly beer at the pub. ;)

[@sabotare9836]

What do you think the full cost of moving from the United States to a city like Melbourne and getting a job and apartment at 18 I was thinking like 15k USD (20.5k) AUD would be enough but idk so I would like some tips from someone like you 😊

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Hi There, this is a bit of a tricky question to answer as Australia's boarders are currently closed and only citizens and residents are allowed to return. Prior to the pandemic, you could purchase a Working Holiday visa (valid for 12 months) which would allow you to come to country and work for (2) employers for a max of 6 months each. If you wanted to extend your visa, you had the option to pick fruit or have your employer sponsor you through work. This is of course completely relative to your field of work, whether your skill can be sponsored and if the company is in the position to sponsor you. In relation to your question, I am sorry but I am not in the position to answer how much you would need but I would say that would be a very good amount to start with to support yourself until you found full-time work. xx

[@CarlyWrites]

Sophie's comments are extremely valid. Visas are a challenge during the pandemic. $20k AUD would go very quickly. As anywhere, it would depend on where you decide to live. I moved there with around $10k Australian in 2014 and luckily my partner was financially helping me with bills and rent, as that money was gone quickly. We did not live in bondi or a high expense area either.

[@melbclayman]

@@SophiesTravelSecrets There's a KZbinr called "Healthy Emmie" who moved to Melbourne to work as a teacher, after training in Boston(?) as a maths teacher. While she's more focussed on promoting a plant-based lifestyle now, her videos on moving to Australia and the cultural and economic differences are pretty entertaining and informative. TL:DR having professional qualifications is a big help and teaching qualifications would be huge.

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

@@melbclayman Thanks Adam will check her out. xx

[@jpdelete]

@@CarlyWrites how does $10k go quickly? I live in the most expensive city in North America and you could reasonably do cost of living for $2-2.5k/month give or take

[@xxkillerdogxx]

Seems like the same as NYC

[@SophiesTravelSecrets]

Interesting!

[@Lioninthenight]

You have beautiful eyes, Sophie. ♥

[@byronchavarria4954]

Australia 🇦🇺 Is The Most Expensive Country In The World

[@travelingman6511]

welcome to australia