Overall, the cost of renting and buying a property is lower in the UK than in Australia. (Here is how to keep the costs of buying lower in the UK.) Still, there are great local differences. For instance, the costs of renting and buying property in London are nearly 20% higher than in Sydney.
Housing in Australia is much more expensive than the UK.
While consumer prices (overall) are 12% lower in the UK, the purchasing power is 16% lower (because of lower pay). Life is overall better in Australia, friends. It will be even more obvious after Brexit when the food prices in the UK will shoot up.
Australia's maximum 47 per cent rate is 8 percentage points higher than New Zealand (39 per cent), about 5 percentage points above the US (a figure which includes an estimated average state income tax) and 2 percentage points higher than the UK.
But overall, people in Australia seem to have a better work-life balance than in other developed countries. They are also, much like New Zealand, very open to long sabbaticals or time off earned so you can do gap years abroad without having to pay for price-y tickets home in between.
Tax Rates. Both Australia and the UK apply progressive rates of tax ranging from 0% to 45%. However, while Australia has a standard initial tax free threshold for all taxpayers, the UK utilises a system of allowances that taxpayers deduct from their income before tax is assessed.
One of the numerous reasons why students from all over the world choose to study in Australia is that it is regarded as a global leader in education. The United Kingdom has a long history of academic excellence and a blend of high-tech modern university teachings.
Australia has lots to offer British newcomers, including a shared language and culture, and a close relationship with the UK (despite being so far apart geographically). It boasts scorchingly sunny weather, great quality of life and beautiful beaches, along with friendly people and lots of space for outdoor living.
If you're making a permanent move to the UK and you're planning on working there then yes, you need a visa. However, it's worth mentioning that Australians can live in the UK visa-free for up to 6 months if they are going there as a tourist.
The average price of a house in Australia is a whopping AU$570,249, around £315,816, while the average property price in the UK is £226,906.
Foreign residents will only be required to declare income or capital gains tax on income/gains generated in Australia when submitting their Australian tax return.
Major differences in the migration systems
Generally, Australia has more types of skilled visas to suit different types of workers around the world. Almost all of the skilled migration program is designed for those who have job offers and sponsorship in the UK, except for Global Talent Visa.
Melbourne is considered by some to be the best city to live in Australia, and has even been ranked as the world's most livable city more than once. It's home to a thriving live music scene, late-night bars and laneways dotted with cafés and coffee shops.
The UK vs Australia: Quality of life. In general, the living standards in Australia are noticeably higher than in the UK. The highest quality of life is also accompanied by higher average wages.
In general, Australia is a very safe country to visit, or live in, with crime levels as low as those of most Northern European countries. According to the gov.uk foreign travel advice website, the level of crime in Australia is no higher than in Britain.
Overall, the cost of renting and buying a property is lower in the UK than in Australia. (Here is how to keep the costs of buying lower in the UK.) Still, there are great local differences. For instance, the costs of renting and buying property in London are nearly 20% higher than in Sydney.
Australia is the OECD's 10th lowest taxing nation.
The last pre-pandemic Budget projected taxes rising to their highest share of GDP since the early 1970s. One underlying reason for higher taxes is weaker economic growth. Before the 2008 financial crisis it was widely assumed that the trend growth rate of the British economy was around 2.75 per cent.
Australia scored highly in the United Nations' 2022 World Happiness Report, ranking as the 12th happiest country out of 156 countries – ahead of Canada (15th), the United States (16th) and the United Kingdom (17th).
Australia achieves substantially better healthcare outcomes than the UK. Cancer survival rates are several percentage points higher, while heart attack and stroke mortality rates are several percentage points lower.
Crime rates
The homicide rate in Australia in 2021 was 0.86 per 100,000, which was lower than New Zealand's 1.0 per 100,000 and 1.3 per 100,000 in the United Kingdom. In comparison to North America in 2021, the United States and Canada had homicide rates of 3.8 and 2.2 per 100,000, respectively.
When moving to the UK from Australia, you need to be in possession of a valid passport. You also need to acquire a Visa. The type of Visa you select will depend on your reason for moving to the UK and your intentions in terms of working or studying in the United Kingdom.