LIFE in AUSTRALIA vs EUROPE | Reality of Living in Melbourne

[@elephantintheroom7102]

I live in Victoria, east of Melbourne, and realised after travelling around Britain,Europe and Scandinavia, across several seasons,that our weather and temperatures are very mild. From a low of no more than minus 2 degrees Celsius in winter, to about 42 degrees Celsius in summer, we don’t have the extremes very much. Only for a few days a year at best. It is interesting that our ambient temperatures are not really mentioned when discussing Australia on the world stage, but they do make life easier in a world that needs heating or cooling. In Victoria we can survive without either.

[@wearemonasi]

Yes! weather is a big point for sure. It was just hard to compare as Europe has such diverse climate depending on the country you’re in. But we’re definitely spoilt here with the weather 🙌🏻😉 take care!

[@tristandavies9597]

I guess the historic architecture thing is one point to an extent with older street patterns and more medium density, though the majority of buildings in any city like Berlin, Athens or Paris aren't actually older than many buildings in Melbourne. you're average Berlin walk up flat was build in the late 19th century around the same time or even later than your average shopfront or terrace house on a Melbourne or Sydney Street. The Parliament House in Melbourne is older than the Reichstag

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for your comment Tristan! Yes, you’re so right. Many things were rebuilt after they were destroyed. 😊 And I guess we were thinking of places in Spain and Portugal that were built in the 15th century. Still beautiful buildings to be found in both continents 🙌🏻😄 take care

[@Fish29077]

Wow, watching the KZbin from other cultures and their thoughts on our wildlife. I had no idea that it’s really a thing people worry about. I find it fascinating and yet worrying that if might be a thing that puts people off Australia. Iv lived everywhere here and it’s not something you should fear with day to day life. The media must be doing something incredible overseas in this regard.

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for sharing this Joel. You might be right. The only time we hear about Australia on TV in Europe is when there’s been a shark attack or something like that. And then all of those docos about crocodiles and venomous animals are always around. But after all it’s rare to encounter them in real life, especially in the city. take care!

[@kazwilson425]

Great to see other video from you both. Pretty accurate and yeah, as a history & architecture buff we can't really compete with Europe. There's that variety of very distinct styles from country to country that we simply don't have. I hope you're enjoying your stay and get a chance to venture out further into other parts of the country.

[@wearemonasi]

Thank you so much for your comment and kind words 🥰 we still find beauty in the buildings here and the gorgeous parks. We can’t wait to explore more outside of the big cities. take care!

[@bravohotel]

Can't compete with a continent imbued with intractable political and economic quagmires? Jesus dude, what are you smoking. Apart from Luxembourg (hardly what I'd call a "country"), Australia blitzes Europe as far as GDP per capita goes, and we don't have the demographic nightmare that's facing Europe as a whole (bar France, maybe). Give me this egalitarian, wide brown land any day of the week. I really could go on, and on ...

[@FionaEm]

I've just found your channel. Glad you're enjoying living in Australia and Melbourne 😊 It's a great country & great city. You seem to have a good understanding of us.

[@wearemonasi]

Hi Fiona! thank you so much 🥰 we feel so lucky to be here. Take care and thanks for your lovely comment.

[@GUTOMOFFICIAL]

Nice general observations as European newcomers to Australia. Sounds like a paradise for you! I think they're friendly to you because you're from Europe so the barista remembered your accents. In terms of prices Melbourne it's not exactly cheap, the wages are higher. Australians love to travel. Australia is nice if you like to travel to Southeast Asia or New Zealand.

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for your comment! Yes, it is not cheap at all. But also not worse than what we were used to in Europe 😊 We can’t wait to explore more too! Take care

[@ilibana]

You two are such an adorable couple! Sandra I can hear the Aussie accent creeping into your voice 😍 totally love your videos, I’m born & lived in Melbourne all my life and have visited Europe - can totally relate to all that you’ve said! ❤

[@stevenponte6655]

Actually when I first started watching them I heard really slight ouches of the aussie accent in Sandra. Only later I found out she used to live here!

[@wearemonasi]

Aww thank you so much for these lovely words 🥰🥰 Big hugs

[@mrd4785]

People don't go to the park and drink or drink outside in public spaces because it is illegal. Drinking in a car or bus is also considered street drinking. I think we continue to have this law to maintain public order and not have drunks crawling around our streets and parks. Alcohol and cigarettes are also heavily taxed to discourage consumption. I think it is a bit over the top though when it comes to alcohol. Public transport in Melbourne is mainly orientated towards rail/ trams but I am from Perth and now live in one of the newer suburbs of Melbourne, that doesn't have rail, and I find it generally harder to get around here than back home. Perth has a very extensive bus network that weaves through the suburbs and is generally quick and efficient. There isn't so much walking and waiting and you can usually catch one or possibly two busses to get to most places of interest, like the nearest shopping centre, the CBD, beach, major sports ground etc. I had to get to places at night in the CBD when I first got to Melbourne and they kept changing the train platforms, with little obvious notice, and it took ages for the next train to come if one came at all. I think public transport in Melbourne could be a little more user friendly, and particularly to people who aren't natives.

[@wearemonasi]

So interesting to hear, thanks for sharing. It is not always great with trains here 🙈 especially since they’re undertaking so many works recently, building a new line or station in the city. Great to hear Perth has a better system. we can’t wait to visit 😊🙌🏻 take care

[@petergmred2005]

We're an island and a continent-worlds largest island n smallest continent. Enjoyed the vid👍

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for clarifying that 😄 I feel like we got a bit confused there for a moment haha. Take care

[@YasminYoruba]

As an Aussie the work part you mentioned being “human” is slightly true. However I love the work life balance in Europe. We burn out here and have high mental health issues having to work off the clock. Here it’s work, work, work and show off your wealth. Europes slow life is beautiful and peaceful. Of course everything is subjective though. I think moving countries is a good thing as it gives you a new start and new motivation. New things are so exciting!

[@wearemonasi]

Yes, that can be true depending on where and what industry. But at the end of the day as you say, change is always refreshing 😃

[@adriankelly372]

Excellent and accurate for the most part - Melbourne though does have lots of older buildings - just not as old as Europe

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for your comment Adrian 😄 yes, that’s it. Still beautiful buildings in both sides of the world 😊 take care

[@c.u.c7938]

​@@wearemonasiand the best quality coffee in the world.

[@wearemonasi]

Oh yes! Coffee is 10/10 😍 guide coming soon! 🙌🏻😊

[@Why-D]

In Germany my boss said one day in August (Summer), when we all sat in the office below the roof, and temperatures raised a lot. "Guys, that was enough for today. I go home to go swimming with my child. Take the rest of the day off as well and enjoy the free time!"

[@wearemonasi]

That is awesome! We all need a boss like that 🙏🏼

[@kerrydoutch5104]

Its called smoko because it was originally a break from work for a cuppa and a smoke. Now its mostly just a cuppa but some people still have a smoke too. As for the deadly wildlife the rule of thumb is be aware of your surroundings and if you see something leave it alone and you wont get hurt. Most snake and spider bites are because the person was trying to kill it.

[@wearemonasi]

That’s right. Most animals are more scared of us what we are of them. Distance and being respectful is the way to go! Thanks Kerry ☺️

[@FredPilcher]

I agree about the architecture. Australia is a young country, but even so we haven't valued our "old" buildings, preferring to knock them down and build something new. I think we're slowly growing out of that attitude, but sadly it's too late for many of our historical buildings. I hope that when you were looking for guitars that you tried some Matons. They make world class acoustic guitars.

[@wearemonasi]

Oh no.. that’s such a pity. Hopefully they ones still standing will be well looked after 😊 Yes we did! Really nice, but ended up going for a Martin 😁

[@RyanLye1975]

In Australia it is generally illegal to consume alcohol in the street, Parks etc.

[@wearemonasi]

Yes, we’ve learned that.

[@cesarparra6538]

Hi, I love your channel. Thanks for the great content! My wife and I are moving from Europe to Melbourne. We are a very calm and quiet couple who love nature. What suburbs or towns (well-connected to Melbourne) would you recommend for accommodation for mid-January for a 5-month stay? We are looking for a place to disconnect from the buzz of the city and have the chance to easily get to the center whenever we want to. Anything you can let us know will be super helpful. Thanks!

[@wearemonasi]

Hi Cesar, Thanks a lot for your nice words. How exciting for you guys! 🙌🏻 well it really depends if you want to be closer to the ocean or more inland. Some places we really like that are calm and connected to nature, yet not too far from the city are Torquay (and surroundings) or the Sandringham area (or down the peninsula). We wish you the best time here! ☺️

[@cesarparra6538]

@wearemonasi thank you sooo much, er will check them out great content keep it up 👍🏽😌

[@heatherfruin5050]

I wish I could afford to go to Europe every year. Unless you've got relatives to stay with hotels and eating out every day is expensive. I'd like to see you do a comparison in a couple of years or so of living in Australia and travelled more around the country. We may not have the oldest buildings in the world but we do have the oldest rocks in The Kimberley, Western Australia which has incredible scenery.😊

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for your comment Heather! 😊 Yes, travelling can be so expensive. Always good to have relatives or friends for sure!! You are so right! we can’t wait to travel around the country and explore all of the outstanding nature you have in this beautiful land. 😍🙌🏻 Take care!

[@shanekopacka2945]

Surface paradise. Queensland. Is the place to be the weather is fantastic and the beaches my front door is the beach it’s not cheap but you never no you might get lucky. With rental

[@stevenponte6655]

Lovely and refreshing perspective of Australia. Keep it up. I recently went to Bali, and would flinch every time I saw a spider, or insect. My friends were laughing saying you are from Australia you should be used to it. I said yes, but in Australia everything can bloody well kill you!!!

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks Steve! 😊 oh god, hope you didn’t have any bad encounter there. I still get goosebumps everything I think of that huntsmen spider crawling out of my bad 😬😬 Take care!

[@louisaklimentos7583]

My son loved Europe but said it was overcrowded during August . I do hiking and I don’t worry about everything can kill you . Great video anyway !

[@wearemonasi]

Yes.. sadly it gets busier every year. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment😊

[@Jak3HxC]

Melbourne was voted most livable city 7 years in a row, when it comes down to quality of living its at the top, you’re so comfortable and living in excess you’re unaware that other places are not like that

[@jaynemeulman8484]

I lived in sydney for 15 years and never needed a car...I was in the inner west and was spoilt for choice with buses, trains and ferries..plus we used to walk everywhere on the weekend and got lots and lots of exercise just going to a restaurant...

[@wearemonasi]

That’s so interesting to hear 😊 when the PT is good around you, that’s the best thing! 🙌🏻 Walking is always great! We’re doing heaps of it here. Take care

[@lbell9695]

Interesting insights! I would say Sydney is probably the best when it comes to public transport. The trains are pretty convenient (unless there is extreme rain or wind, where there would be some difficulties), and the light rails are pretty efficient too. The ferries provide some stunning views. However, compared to certain places in Europe - e.g The Netherlands, it's probably not the best. Sydney trains are definitely better than London's or Paris' though! And yes to the smoking thing! When I visited Europe, my nose couldn't tolerate all the smoke haha. As a healthcare practitioner, honestly it's great Australia has taken a strong stance against smoking (and recently vaping) so that people don't have to suffer with some really irritating cardiovascular conditions later on. And the reason why alcohol and cigarettes is more expensive is because the government has enforced something called 'luxury tax'. It does a good job in lessening the consumption of alcohol and cigarettes, that's for sure! And is probably partially why the life expectancy in Australia is so high.

[@wearemonasi]

Ah that is great to know. We didn’t use PT in Sydney so we couldn’t really compare. 😊 Thanks for sharing. Yes! The smoking is terrible in some places in Europe. Our lungs feel very happy these days! 😉 Take care!

[@phunk8607]

The whole Western Europe countries fit into Australia w room to spare so car is a must. Driving 3 hours to get lunch is normal in another state

[@wearemonasi]

Wow! That’s crazy. We’re lucky to live central and have so many options around us😊 take care and thanks for the comment

[@MENSA.lady2]

My great uncle was a £10 Pommie who migrated to Perth in 1963. He was a skilled Aircraft engineer and his skills were in demand, he did well. I visited him several times and while I enjoyed my visits I have no wish to migrate myself. I can't see any benefit.

[@wearemonasi]

Happy to hear that he did well and you enjoyed visiting WA. We haven’t been there yet. Thanks for your comment and take care.

[@shanekopacka2945]

Australia has got a rental crisis but stay focus and don’t give up you will get it.

[@tasospat4919]

To be fair most of us here in Europe can't afford to visit Australia because flights are so expensive and we make less money

[@wearemonasi]

Yes.. that is a big reason why it’s challenging. Still could be a great one for the bucket list ☺️

[@shanekopacka2945]

Australia is way cleaner than the uk a met a uk family in Australia they said they will never go back to the uk there very happy they said specialy the life style they love the warm weather and blue sky’s

[@michaelmayo9048]

When in Australia say towns not villages ...if you say village to me (Australian) l would look at you a little confused becouse l got all different things going through my brain trying to picture what a village is. This video is Pritty accurate on Australia...do l Australian think about Europe or any other country not really ... probably l mostly think about USA becouse we are similar we like the same things ...from bands to beaches and surf and desert and cars motorbikes...but l do talk to anyone from any country becouse l just wouldn't ignore them l would help if they want help .if you do nice things for people you feel better for it ..

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for this observation Michael! Good to know😊 Being nice and kind is always the way to go! Take care

[@elenawalker3746]

The cigarette tax in Australia is 65% and alcohol tax is high around 45%.

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for shaking Elena

[@dee-smart]

There is a deliberate push to keep alcoholism and cigarette smoking to a minimum so that is why the cost has been pushed up so much for cigarettes and alcohol. It is a deterrent, especially for the younger adults who might not be on high wages and can afford to buy them regularly. It probably has brought down the number of drunk drivers too.

[@wearemonasi]

That makes sense. We think that anything that promotes health and safety is always good. take care 😊

[@stephen6556]

Ha ha dont forget about the " drop bears". I was on a school camp trip around 40 years ago in Victoria and we talked about drop bears. We scared ourselves so much we all panicked and ran through the bush screaming. Glad its still being mentioned. Ha ha

[@wearemonasi]

Hahaha the first time someone told me I totally bought it. Had to google it to find out the truth. 😂 Still funny every time we tell someone through! Take care Stephen

[@peruchitamolinera]

Honestly, I had to turn on the subtitles setting but just to see what Sandra is saying. In one part the subtitles said literally "Dubai" instead of "to buy" when Sandra said a statement. Wow!. Timo, your English is more understandable to me. Let's see how it goes, I have been considering a move to Australia, since Germany is not offering me things that I really value.

[@adriankelly372]

You need a hearing test. She sounded perfect to me.

[@adriankelly372]

Interesting

[@dereckbrannigan6195]

Melbourne is the biggest multicultural capital in Australia. We are well used to, and delight, in hearing everyone’s different accents. It adds to the fun.

[@wearemonasi]

If you decide to move, then we wish you all the best! Take care

[@vk3crg]

I’m Australian (I live down the road in Geelong guys! 😂) and can understand both Sandra and Timo 100%. They’re both perfectly understandable to us Aussies anyway! 😊 I’ve just discovered your channel, I’ve subscribed and really enjoy your videos. I’ve travelled in Europe a few times. So nice to have you both here in Australia! Craig 😊

[@jenniferharrison8915]

All large Australian cities have their own vibe and architecture, some have multiple types of communities and architecture in the one city! Adelaide is very European! The current world's population is very mobile, and we have issued far too many visas at the same time, so finding housing is an issue right now - it's a busy time! Yes, smoking and drinking, people matter first in Australia, and our health! 👍

[@wearemonasi]

So interesting to learn how other countries function. Thanks for sharing ☺️🙌🏻

[@markleon411]

The high price of cigarettes is part of the strategy the government implemented to try to get people to quit smoking. The price of tobacco is not any higher than anywhere else but a huge tax is added to the retail price. The strategy also included a massive education campaign as well as bans in a growing number of places, even some public parks and beaches.

[@wearemonasi]

We’ve learnt this after creating this video.Thanks for sharing

[@jobooth1173]

This was a cute video. It certainly seems like you both like living in Australia but maybe you were being on your best behaviour? I dunno like you tried not to say anything bad about Australia. Its okay to bag us out. Its why I searched the topic "which is better, Australia or Europe" and found your video! I hope you enjoy your travels.

[@wearemonasi]

Hi friend. Thanks for your comment. We’re sure there are bad things as in everything but we wanted to focus on what brought us here and the positives of this continent. Maybe as we learn more things we don’t like we might make a video about it. Thanks for watching and sharing with us. Take care!

[@shanekopacka2945]

Australia has the hightest level off fruit and mango s vegetables. Buy it from the markets. Not from the shopping centres

[@Maxiakt]

C'mon guys I have lived in Australia for over 60 years and have never seen a deadly animal in the wild except snakes. You are just falling into a misguided stereotype of Australia. You should just speak of your personal experience, not just stuff you've heard

[@wearemonasi]

Yes, absolutely. We are very safe in the city and it is indeed an exception to encounter these animals. Although we almost stepped on a brown snake in own first week here 😁 either way we love all wildlife! Take care

[@carokat1111]

@@wearemonasi That was unlucky! I live in the bush, surrounded by animals, and I've seen 3 snakes in 15 years. They slither away most of the time and few types are aggressive.

[@sumand1143]

Are Aussies cruel to animals? Do they kill a lot of animals?

[@brittneeruksenas450]

I think you also need to speak for yourself only here also hahaha, I'm only 30 and I've seen almost ALL of our deadly creatures in the wild, im absolutely stoked to have had the childhood i had here in aus. I know its not the same for everyone - I did grow up in the country and travel between the NT, qld And SA a fair amount helping me grow my list of sightings . But I've know travellers who have been here for a limited time and have (in my opinion) been blessed to see a lot of our wildlife and beautiful nature, I suppose it depends on you're choice of living and exposure 😉. I'd also like to mention- its actually super appropriate to tell people that the bugs, animals and even some plants aren't super friendly!! Some people dont understand the little extra spice our critters carry , I've seen too many people think you can pat a wild roo or take a selfie with an emu 😂 there's also a ridiculously stupid clip of someone picking up a blue ring octopus saying it was "cute" they luckily copped no injuries/survived & then had to admit their fault because others wanted to find and pick up this "cute octopus" 😅 telling others Australia comes with some interesting and a little dangerous critters also keeps our wildlife safer in my opinion, stops people from messing around where they shouldn't. ❤

[@Maxiakt]

@brittneeruksenas450 I live in Tasmania and have spent most of my life in the bush hunting fishing camping etc so I know the environment intimately.

[@francisnjugunaldc]

Australia is the best place to live

[@wearemonasi]

🙌🏻🙌🏻😊 we love it here!

[@sumand1143]

Aussies are cruel to animals

[@johnneill9740]

My first question... Why!?

[@wearemonasi]

Great question!

[@bingo000]

Alcohol and particularly cigarettes are highly taxed to stop people from smoking and it's working.

[@wearemonasi]

That’s good news!

[@petefluffy7420]

One particular brand of sand shoes? Serious ?

[@wearemonasi]

sorry, not sure what you mean.

[@petefluffy7420]

@@wearemonasi It seems bizarre to me to got to effort, any effort to purchase something as mundane as sand shoes with a particular brand name. If they fit ok, that is good enough.

[@roadster01974]

Nice video of you two, I have lived in Australia myself (Melbourne) but some tings I've experienced differently. The friendliness you speak about I have not experienced. I did experience friendliness of immigrants but the Aussies don't mingle with the immigrants. Further, the human side. I experience in Europe way more the human part. When you are ill or when you need to take care of someone, they understand. When I was suffering from a depression in Australia, No one wanted gave a listening ear, I just had to man up and continue. Customer support in Australia is planning the blame game on the customer, not helping them with the issue they have. Just showing my experience and view on living in Australia O and by the way, Australia is part of the continent Oceania and Australia smaller than Europe (7.7 mil sqm vs 10.2 sqm)

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for your comment. We’re sorry to hear you didn’t have the best experience. We hope things are bette now. Take care!

[@phunk8607]

Monstera Siltepecana El Salvador

[@prana8660]

💜 nenes

[@wearemonasi]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@peterbreis5407]

We don't have rabies and crazies with guns.

[@wearemonasi]

And we love that! 🙌🏻😁

[@MarcoVillanuevax]

The problem of all of these "Living in __________________ (fill the dotted line). ..." is that none of these KZbinrs or OP's perform any "real world" activities, have kids nor stable budget. Therefore, their opinions or "takes" are severely skewed or are plainly impractical. There is -for instance- an absolute absence of "workplace environment" other than temporary jobs and limited immersion.

[@wearemonasi]

Hi Marco, thanks for sharing your opinion.

[@RyanLye1975]

Australia heavily taxes Alcohol AND Cigarettes/tobacco, > 50%.

[@wearemonasi]

Yes, that’s right. Good we don’t consume any of those 😅

[@lukei6255]

I guess because Australia is very English it is similar to the Dutch. Yes, architecture is quite cheap, most built for investment, poor heating (no city hot water distributed to radiators), poor insulation and no double glazing in windows. Coffee is very expensive. Public transport is poor. Salaries are high but it is very expensive. Most people struggle. There are over three million Australians living in poverty, and over 200,000 homeless people, the highest per capita in the OECD countries (over 90 per 10,000, the UK 50, Germany 4, Poland 3, Finland almost 0). Town planning is based on the US-British 1950s model, car oriented. There is a lot of hypocrisy about smoking and the way the government handles it, restricting freedom of personal choice, claiming it is for health reasons while doing nothing about alcohol and legalising some drugs. The biggest issue facing Australia is the cost of living, poverty, the lowest unemployment benefits in OECD countries, healthcare: long queues at ER, shortage of doctors, no bulk billing, expected 780,000 migrants in the next two years while we have shortage of rental accommodation and social housing (490,000 people on the waiting lists with average waiting time of 10 years). And finally the unresolved continuous treatment of the indigenous Australians, occupation of their land, the English establishment, the English king and GGs overseeing and controlling Aus government, and no independence.

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks for sharing these facts Luke. It’s definitely not perfect. But no country is (or at least the ones we’ve lived in) 🙈 We are still grateful to be here and try to look at all of the good things that Australia has to offer. Take care☺️

[@lukei6255]

@@wearemonasi thank you. I wish you all the best. I have a good friend from the Netherlands who also left his home country behind but didn't choose Australia as his new home. He said it is similar in a way of censorship, political correctness and weird priorities, high crime caused by some ethnic groups like Moroccans and high taxes. I left Australia because 60% of my salary was going to pay rent, half of my wife's salary to pay for childcare. We had no life working long hours that is quite common in Australia and were not able to save for a home deposit. We love the Australian nature/outback but in recent years even camping has become madly expensive, with tent sites going for $50-60 a night. It is not Australia of the 1980s or 1990s that was affordable and provided good life to most.

[@wearemonasi]

Thanks Luke. We wish you all the best too! 😊

[@carokat1111]

Goodness! You forgot to look at the positives as well - of which there are many.

[@stussysinglet]

I think much of what your saying is either exaggerated, misleading or false. I’m not sure exactly which and how many countries are included in the OECD but I have to question some of your statistics . If Australia scores so badly in terms of homelessness, crime, transport, healthcare and welfare it’s very difficult to see how our cities are ranked as some of the most liveable in the world or how our standard of living and happiness is also ranked as quite high. Coffee is expensive although when you consider wages I question if it is that much more than Europe. I would strongly disagree that public transport is bad in Melbourne or Sydney and relative to wages 50$ a week for unlimited travel is also not that expensive.

[@Danger_Mouse3619]

Yeah you generally have a chin wag with anyone here. 😜😎

[@wearemonasi]

We love that!! 🙌🏻😄

[@sumand1143]

Aussies are cruel to animals

[@wearemonasi]

Unfortunately many people in the world are 😔 and we can’t generalise but try to be a good example.

[@renatewest6366]

You cannot generalise like that.We need heating and cooling in Ballarat Victoria.