I was in Melbourne for 3 months this year and enjoyed it, but it was shockingly expensive. Groceries are 2x the cost of NYC, clothing is 3x. If you drive, fuel

I was in Melbourne for 3 months this year and enjoyed it, but it was shockingly expensive. Groceries are 2x the cost of NYC, clothing is 3x. If you drive, fuel is 6x. Housing is about the same. From what I know, Sydney is even more expensive. If this list is to be believed, all major cities in Australia are more expensive than NYC, which is about the most expensive place in the USA. http://www.citymayors.com/features/cost_survey.html http://www.citymayors.com/features/cost_survey.html As to your first point, I traveled extensively in Australia. To an outsider, Perth is more culturally similar to the rest of the country than Sydney is. :P