Living in USA vs Australia

Living in USA vs AUSTRALIA – Better Life or Big Mistake?

What if moving to Australia meant a better job, free healthcare, more safety… but came with serious downsides? In this episode of World Living Guide, we compare real life in the USA vs Australia — including salaries, healthcare, rent, safety, vacation time, and what American expats really experience after making the move.

💰 Salary & Cost of Living

• 40% salary increase (Denver vs Brisbane engineering)

• $3,500 rent = studio in US vs ocean-view apartment in AU

• Higher wages but also higher import costs in Australia

🏥 Healthcare

• U.S. family health insurance: $25,572/year

• Australia: Free public care via 2% Medicare levy

• Doctor visits: $25 vs hundreds in the US

🛡️ Safety & Lifestyle

• Homicide rate: 1 per 100k in AU vs much higher in US

• Virtually no gun violence in Australia

• Better air, cleaner cities, national parks, and beaches

⚖️ Work-Life Balance

• U.S.: 10–15 vacation days (if lucky)

• AU: 4–5 weeks paid leave, paid parental leave, protected jobs

• Workplace culture supports taking time off

⚠️ Real Challenges

• Immigration costs: $15K–25K for families

• Long-distance from U.S. (20-hour flights)

• Electronics, cars, and goods are 30–40% more expensive