Is Australia an expensive country?

[oz_mark]

Drinking Stella over here gets you the same look as drinking xx_X or Emu Export back home...

I don't mind Swan Lager or Emu Export on the odd occassion (maybe it reminds me of days long past!)

 

[simongr]

Such an efficient system. I had a GP appointment for 9am. Arrived at 8.59. Checked myself in using a touch screen system, 9am Dr came out and called my name, went in. Maybe I was just lucky... but I've never had such an on-time appointment back home!

We normally call the Doc 10 mins after the appointment is scheduled to see when we should leave the house...

Drinking Stella over here gets you the same look as drinking xx_X or Emu Export back home...

They don't call it wife beater for nothing...

 

[drron]

There is also range - I pay a premium here and get fewer choices than in the US or UK. This applies to lot of food stuffs as well they ismply aren't available here (tried buying fresh truffles recently?)

Well here is a picture of the oaks in Tassie where truffles are already being harvested so they will be available.Just near Deloraine.

And here is there website-
Truffles Australis - Home
Under the About truffles heading are details of truffle tours and truffle hunts if you are really keen.

 

[JohnK]

We normally call the Doc 10 mins after the appointment is scheduled to see when we should leave the house...

My GP is late every day. There is a notice at my GP's surgery advising people to call 30 minutes before their appointment so the secretary can tell how late the doctor is running on the day.

I had a 10:00am appointment on Friday for a full blood test and consultation. I left the surgery at ~11:50am and the blood test is done by a nurse and takes less than 5 minutes. :shock: Oh and he decided that he will no longer bulk bill me and charged me $85 for the consultation.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Oh and he decided that he will no longer bulk bill me and charged me $85 for the consultation.

This is becoming more and more common. A pity.

 

[Warks]

I went to a "Christmas market" at the weekend and it used to be the spot to get a few cheap but good things as pressies plus reasonably priced food. Everything I saw was very expensive - I guess that's expected vs cheap Chinese made tat but sometimes it's just cheap Chinese made tat on a market stall.
The food was expensive too - the universal Turkish gozleme is now $9 and still people queue around the block - I can recall only a few years ago it was $4.50 which was probably cheap. The fact that people still queue for it shows there is good price elasticity but the prices on everything else seems to be around $9 as well. While that's a cheap meal at a cafe it's only "street food" and to pay $9 for a glorified hot dog (another stall) or pizza slice is a bit rich.

Also the "home made lemonade" was $4.50 a tiny glass!

I sound like a total tightwad but I reckon this is all too expensive. The problem in this country is we are too accepting of overpriced stuff.

 

[Flashback]

I went to a "Christmas market" at the weekend and it used to be the spot to get a few cheap but good things as pressies plus reasonably priced food. Everything I saw was very expensive - I guess that's expected vs cheap Chinese made tat but sometimes it's just cheap Chinese made tat on a market stall.
The food was expensive too - the universal Turkish gozleme is now $9 and still people queue around the block - I can recall only a few years ago it was $4.50 which was probably cheap. The fact that people still queue for it shows there is good price elasticity but the prices on everything else seems to be around $9 as well. While that's a cheap meal at a cafe it's only "street food" and to pay $9 for a glorified hot dog (another stall) or pizza slice is a bit rich.

Also the "home made lemonade" was $4.50 a tiny glass!

I sound like a total tightwad but I reckon this is all too expensive. The problem in this country is we are too accepting of overpriced stuff.

Similar to over here, too. I checked out 2 Christmas Markets on the weekend. Winter Wonderland (Hyde Park, London) and Brugge (Belgium). Most things (mulled wine, bratwurst in a roll, etc) were double the price in London when converted from Pounds to AUD and Euro to AUD.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Such an efficient system. I had a GP appointment for 9am. Arrived at 8.59. Checked myself in using a touch screen system, 9am Dr came out and called my name, went in. Maybe I was just lucky... but I've never had such an on-time appointment back home!

They don't normally run late that early in the morning!!

 

[Sprucegoose]

If there is a problem with money, there are some options, earn more or push off!!

 

[Must...Fly!]

This is becoming more and more common. A pity.

It is, but you can't really blame them. Everything is going up these days

 

[Flashback]

They don't normally run late that early in the morning!!

The GP's I've used back home do.......

 

[JohnK]

The fact that people still queue for it shows there is good price elasticity but the prices on everything else seems to be around $9 as well. While that's a cheap meal at a cafe it's only "street food" and to pay $9 for a glorified hot dog (another stall) or pizza slice is a bit rich.

I refuse to pay that much for "street food". Personally I feel $5 for a sausage roll with onions is way too much.

It is, but you can't really blame them. Everything is going up these days

Everything except for salaries. How are families on low incomes able to survive?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Everything except for salaries. How are families on low incomes able to survive?

Good question, but as soon as one charges more, the others will follow...I do know that there are some who will bulk bill the elderly/those who genuinely can't afford it.

 

[cove]

PRICE CHECK ON ALCOHOL
1.75 Litre Jack Daniels 29.99 at Costco.
Moet champagne 29.99 at Costco.
Is this expensive?
It would be plus 9.75% California State tax.

 

[simongr]

They don't normally run late that early in the morning!!

You haven't met my GP...

If there is a problem with money, there are some options, earn more or push off!!

Thanks again for that contribution - very helpful and adding to the discussion. I think an objective discussion on how expensive Australia is relative to other economies is interesting. The relative expense is also only a single consideration for living here - the warm and friendly people are meant to be part of the consideration...

 

[Warks]

Bought a Christmas tree from Rotary/Apex/Scouts or someone last night. Had $50 in my pocket and grabbed the biggest tree I could get (and it wasn't all that big) before they were all gone and I was left with the desk sized ones. Was told "all trees are $70" and I said - "even those?" indicating the twigs on the ground. He said "that's why it's good to get here early!"

I mean really. It's all for a good cause but two years ago they were $30 to $50. I bought a very fancy and very big one from a Christmas tree farm last year and nearly threw up when it was $80-90. Now it looks like good value!

Is there any reason to jam up prices like this? I'm betting there's collusion on this and they'll all cost about this price in this area of Sydney.

 

[Flashback]

Just wanted to add......... compared to Norway (which is where I am now), no, Australia is not an expensive country:!: :shock:

 

[drron]

Just wanted to add......... compared to Norway (which is where I am now), no, Australia is not an expensive country:!: :shock:

Nothing like sticker shock to keep you warm!

 

[Flashback]

Nothing like sticker shock to keep you warm!

$5 for a small bottle of water :shock:

 

[Hvr]

$5 for a small bottle of water :shock:

If you regularly buy water in a country where there is potable water from the tap then you deserve to pay exorbitant amounts.