Should I Move to Sydney?

LDeadp00l on 26/09/2017 - 09:36
Last edited 02/10/2017 - 16:34

Hi,

This is my first post and I need some advice.

I am living in Perth and working as a Software Developer.

Current situation:
Married with 2 kids
Permanent Job $130K
Renting: $500/week

I have been offered a job in Sydney
Permanent Job, $170K

Should I accept the job offer considering higher living cost?
If yes, what is the best way to move my household stuff and two cars to Sydney?

Thanks..

UPDATE:

Finally, I have decided to stay in Perth. I have got an offer from my current employer which I couldn't decline.

As a lot of members are asking me about what I do,
I am a Sitecore developer.
No, I wasn't hired by Amazon in Sydney.
My wife is an Migration consultant. She runs her own business "Gate Migration".

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to comment your views.

Poll Options

  • 160
    Stay in Perth
  • 40
    Move to Sydney
  • 37
    Whatever wife says
Financial

Comments

        • serpserpserp on 28/09/2017 - 20:22
          -1

          How do you not keep your skills current? Once you can program, you can program… Only takes you a few months pick up a new language etc. once you are competent in a few.

        • syousef on 28/09/2017 - 20:48
          +1

          @serpserpserp:

          No one cares what you can do, only what you've been doing in the last 12-18 months.

          1. It's not just about the languages. It's about the libraries. These days it can also be about the certifications. At least you said months not weeks. But why would an employer hire someone that isn't current and wait weeks or months for them to be productive? Especially when there's a glut of programmers with many things having been outsourced over the last few years.

          2. No one wants to hire programmers over 40, unless they're a gun and they fill a niche. Even then sometimes they aren't treated well. Employers can pay the younger ones less, and often they don't have a family to provide for and worry about. They're eager to make a name for themselves and the employer gets 3 or 4 youngsters for the price of 2 experienced developers. Less and less employers seem to understand the importance of experience, or care about knowledge that's specific to the business. The youngsters often come with a masters degree attached too. So while being ageist is technically illegal employers always find legal ways to justify it.

          You can of course choose to dimiss me as a washout that has no clue, but I've been in the game since the mid 90s and I have never been out of work. I've worked as a consultant and I've worked with plenty of languages, and even went back and taught a couple of electives - Unix System Programming and Visual Basic - in my post uni days. I use to work as a consultant, but this last job has been long term full time for one employer.

          For a post-outsourced developer, it's rough out there!

      • mr_asstight on 27/09/2017 - 22:26
        +3

        Big trade off against time though. More $ = more hours = more stress.

        on that kind of money, they own you.

  • jenholic on 27/09/2017 - 14:17
    +10

    one of the more enjoyable thread reads so far

    • dealman on 28/09/2017 - 09:22
      +1

      Very very interesting thread indeed.

      Now it makes me think of creating another one should ** I move from Melbourne to Brisbane. **

      I know the weather thing but anything else.

      • serpserpserp on 28/09/2017 - 20:23

        Answer is yes to that one, if you are getting paid more, for sure.

  • uk3000 on 27/09/2017 - 14:42
    +4

    Amazon is calling? :)

    • ItsMeAgro on 29/09/2017 - 09:19
      +1

      OP If it really is Amazon, read some of their employee horror stories online first, a horrible workplace can eat up all the benefit of a pay rise very quickly…

    • ozlab on 30/09/2017 - 15:07

      If you are young, I would say working hard is fine if you get high salary in return. After all, the money you've earned can be used for investment anyway. When you are old, it's kind of hard to work hard. Also less time for investment. Working in amazon, you probably need to wake up in the middle of the night.

  • foolsgold on 27/09/2017 - 14:43
    +1

    I say yes, 40k will pay for a significant amount smashed avos

    • jsediv on 27/09/2017 - 15:46
      +2

      at least 7 I would say

  • [Deactivated] on 27/09/2017 - 15:35
    +4

    If you are a career man, then moving (whether is this job or the next opportunity) is an eventuality. If you're not playing in the big leagues, ie. A stakeholder by the time you are 35, you'll never make it beyond the middle management income you're currently receiving.

    It's a choice between family comfort and your career. If you turn this opportunity down because of family pressure, you may as well start fluffing up your nest. Nothing wrong with that, but you won't be moving.

    • syousef on 27/09/2017 - 17:26
      +3

      Most people don't end up "stakeholders" as you put it, regardless.

      • djmm on 27/09/2017 - 17:30
        +3

        Well I am a steakholder.

        • syousef on 27/09/2017 - 19:07

          Just make sure the sauce is nice, and the vegies are fresh!

        • djmm on 27/09/2017 - 20:25

          @syousef:

          vegies? what's that?

      • [Deactivated] on 27/09/2017 - 19:14
        +2

        Of course many don't become stakeholders. Those opportunities are highly coveted.

        It all depends on how much leverage one can apply as they climb the corporate ladder. Lots of people think they are climbing, very few actually are.

        • syousef on 27/09/2017 - 19:16
          +2

          And those that don't throw away a decent family life AND gain nothing.

          Much easier to get another job than another family.

        • [Deactivated] on 27/09/2017 - 19:17

          @syousef:
          That's very true. It's often a lonely life, or a young man/lady's game.

    • oldspice on 27/09/2017 - 21:47
      +1

      OP is 37

    • serpserpserp on 28/09/2017 - 20:24
      +1

      Stake holder? I don't want to work in landscaping thanks.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/09/2017 - 12:35

        If lollipop man's pay is anything to go by, stake holder could be an awesome gig.

    • ozlab on 30/09/2017 - 15:12

      most software developers happy to work as developers for the rest of their life. If you go to real tech company they have principal or staff software engineer/developer. The pay is probably same as middle management or higher.

  • Tech and cars on 27/09/2017 - 15:55
    +3

    Look for a job in brisbane that pays the same!

    • Knightelf on 28/09/2017 - 23:40

      Or just stay in Perth and find a job that pays the same.

  • Donaldhump on 27/09/2017 - 16:33
    +14

    I could easy earn 50k more in Sydney, but I prefer living on the beach, getting out of bed at 9am, and a 10 minute commute

    I would say no

    • ely on 30/09/2017 - 01:58

      If I could earn $50k more, but would have to put it in my own, no. If I could earn $50k more and put it in my wife's name, yes. The tax situation is (profanity) up enough that even though the gross family income is exactly the same one works out far better than the other.

      • Donaldhump on 30/09/2017 - 08:55

        Yes, should be joint tax returns,

  • JUSTINO on 27/09/2017 - 17:01

    Hey deadp001 I think you should add a poll to the discussion so you can get clear votes

  • djmm on 27/09/2017 - 17:29
    +2

    If you live in a nice suburb nice workplace, answer is not worth it. unless this sydney job can potentially turn into 200k job quickly. even then id still think about it. under that income bracket, the rise would have to be substantial to make it worthwhile.

    Remember it is not only you but your family will be impacted as well. if it was me, no. unless i phukin hate my current job.

  • cyrax83 on 27/09/2017 - 17:35

    Jesus thats alot of money. Hell yes move.

  • smpantsonfire on 27/09/2017 - 18:06
    +5

    Imo, try and find that pay rise in Perth.

  • fozzie on 27/09/2017 - 19:47
    +2

    Wow that’s very decent money you make in Perth anyway. I would probably stay in Perth, as considering how much more expensive is in Sydney move is not worth it.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 27/09/2017 - 19:50

    Yes and no

  • worldwidehappiness on 27/09/2017 - 19:55
    +9

    Research shows that happiness doesn't increase above $80k per year, unless it gets to tens of millions per year. So if it's just for money, it might not be worth it.

    • djmm on 27/09/2017 - 20:27
      +9

      who made this research? the same westpac analyst who thinks 80k car is an investment?

      • worldwidehappiness on 27/09/2017 - 22:25
        +5

        It was a 2010 study, so it might be up to $100k now:

        "The study, conducted by Nobel Prize-winning Princeton psychologist Daniel Kahneman and economist Angus Deaton, defines economic emotional well-being as “the emotional quality of an individual’s everyday experience, the frequency and intensity of experiences of joy, stress, sadness, anger and affection that make one’s life pleasant or unpleasant.” The idea being that more money makes people happier but only to a certain point − and $75,000 a year is a key threshold. After that, additional income doesn’t have as much of an impact on happiness."

        • greatlamp on 28/09/2017 - 06:06
          +4

          IIRC that was a USA study. 75k in the US is middle class lifestyle in the US for a single person. You can afford a McMansion or a city Apartment, new car, eat out etc.

          A minimum wage life in the US is 20k per year.

          75k in Australia is enough to pay a mortgage in an outer suburb with a 1 hr commute to work in Sydney or Melbourne.

          If the minimum wage life cost 35k in Australia, the equivalent salary is probably around 140k. Pretty much what OP earns right now, but much more that what most Australians earn

    • OzzyOzbourne on 29/09/2017 - 20:06

      Can't believe that. You need more to buy a house and support kids, which generally contributes to happiness.

    • ozlab on 30/09/2017 - 15:14

      thanks i will stop working.

  • CLoSeR on 27/09/2017 - 20:06
    +1

    Rental might be higher in Sydney but eating out and retail is much cheaper than Perth.

    I'd move, if you're working at Homebush though consider driving the easiest way to get to work depending on the office location. Obviously try to live in the surrounding Suburbs like Newington, Lidcombe, Strathfield.

  • DemocracyManifest on 27/09/2017 - 20:25
    +4

    Tbh if you've never been to these areas, maybe rent out a airbnb house for the weekend, a joe blogs one, and see if you like it.

    • Meconium on 28/09/2017 - 12:34

      This is a great idea.

      • DemocracyManifest on 28/09/2017 - 19:52
        +1

        I'm saying this because I lived in the inner west and it's a huge jump from the suburbs, every one is crammed in together and buildings are all different sizes, no uniformity. One place neighbours looked directly down on us, another place could hear them all through the walls and frequently there were skirmishes on the street; that was Leichhardt. Homebush is changing very quickly with rapid development in a year or two it'll be completely different to when you moved in.

        • serpserpserp on 28/09/2017 - 20:27

          there were skirmishes on the street

          Just small arms fire or some assault rifle/mortar action?

        • DemocracyManifest on 28/09/2017 - 20:36

          @serpserpserp: the occasional fistfight, saw a dude beating randoms with a baseball bat once. Outside our front window. It was really odd. In short it's a good area to go to but not to live

  • kanad on 27/09/2017 - 20:53
    +2

    I would move, it is a significant jump in salary especially as a developer. You must be very good and have the hot skillset. One can usually only progress to more higher paying job in future in steps like this. Not easy to go from 130k to 210k but easier to go from 170k to 210k and only Sydney economy can offer this kind of high paying jobs in tech. The chance of your career flourishing in Sydney in much greater than in Perth.

    As for the moving, being from Indian ethnicity I know guy with family in upper 30s leave good job in India and move to regional Queensland as that is the only place where he got an offer. Couple of years experience and he has moved to big capital city. You are only moving inside Australia as an Aussie, not big deal.

  • Dsquall on 27/09/2017 - 21:51
    +9

    I've just taken a new job in Brisbane cause I'm pretty young and I just can't afford to live here as an independent person trying to start a family (I'm in a pretty good industry too). My plan is to climb the ladder a bit and come back to Sydney when I've got more saved up.

    Some of the things I had to consider were:

    Pros of Sydney:
    - Heaps to do, plenty of restraunts and new ones pop up every few months
    - Decent public transport network to get to most places
    - Iconic harbour, decent night life and lots of events
    - Good schools and unis for the kids
    -? Better career prospects. I think this depends on your industry. Also, people in Sydney are very competitive a point I outline more below.

    Cons of Sydney:
    - Living costs are spectacular, housing costs even more so. A rundown house in a decent inner west suburb will set you back around 2m at this point
    - Most people are prima facie arse holes (if you don't know them) i.e if you try to say hello to someone in a park or in your apartment complex they'll probably chuck you the stink eye (probably thinking you're trying to rob them). But I think this is just how people in big cities are
    - Driving any day of the week at peak hour within 20kms of the City will give you PTSD
    - People at work are generally uber competitive and there's a lot of 'snakery' going around (at least in my industry). It's little wonder most senior politicians are from Sydney.
    - Most suburbs are divided along cultural lines, especially out west. I personally don't really like this cause I feel that it's a bit of a jip to come to a country and entirely ignore the culture and customs of your new home and just go and do your own thing. (I'm saying this as an individual from an ethic minority born into an immigrant family)

    To be honest, if I made enough to be able to comfortably take out a 2m dollar mortgage, I would probably stay but that's more cause Sydney is home for me. I think you just gotta ask yourself are the benefits of a few more $s and possibly better career prospects worth uprooting your entire family and leaving behind other friends and relatives. I also think that for you it's probably a much more permanent choice (I.e you can't just move back to Perth in a few years) as moving around a lot isn't really fair to your kids especially during their formative years. Anyways good luck and hopefully it all works out well for you.

    Edit:also tolls, so many tolls. You even have to pay tolls for a road that isn't finished.

    • ely on 30/09/2017 - 01:50

      Can't really see why you're not thinking of Melbourne in your situation. Just a good job that came up?

      • Dsquall on 03/10/2017 - 13:43

        The fiancé works in Brisbane and I've been flying up and down for the last year. Was just easier for us to move there than Melbourne.

        • ely on 05/10/2017 - 18:05

          Yeah, that is a bit closer then. I'd definitely move to Brisbane over Sydney, apartments there are looking pretty reasonable (unsure about prices, but units seem to be much cheaper than they were).

  • qwijibo on 28/09/2017 - 00:10
    +1

    Since you're in software development, one of the big pros is job choice. If you get laid off/sick of your job, or just want to upgrade your income, it is an order of magnitude easier than in small markets like Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, etc. The work can sometimes be more interesting - there are some startups doing stuff in fintech, AI, blockchain tech, big-data - its not all banks.

    You have to weigh that against the cons everyone else brought up. Sydney is a hole and its inhabitants are a-holes.

  • dlakers3peat on 28/09/2017 - 00:54
    +9

    i would say do not do it. If you are happy in Perth and have a good quality life then the extra dough is not worth it. My sister lives in this area and I can tell you the inner west of Sydney, though nice to live in, has bad traffic even on the weekends. People are rude and selfish. Life is expensive here, public transport is good but expensive, tolls on all major highways/tunnels, parking in the city is very expensive during the day, parking inspectors are ruthless in all suburbs and also expensive, child care expensive and hard to get a place for your child. I could go on and on. I have lived in Sydney my whole life and I remember when it was a much nicer place to live in. Also if you are not familiar with Sydney it is very multicultural. There are parts of Sydney, not far from where you work, if you went there you would think you are in another country. So if that sort of thing bothers you, you might want consider this.

  • Baa on 28/09/2017 - 03:36
    +1

    This is a constant conversation between my wife and I over the past 10 years, lately the conversation has started turning more towards getting out of the city and away from the rat race (dreaming).

    At the end of the day Perth has been good to us and I don't see myself moving unless our situation changes drastically.

    Spending a lot of times in Melbourne and Sydney for work in particular I don't ever see myself living there.

    If a good opportunity came up for a international move I would be tempted - but I have never made the effort to look.

    • greatlamp on 28/09/2017 - 06:24

      Is Perth growing at the same pace as the eastern cities?

      I Imagine that eventually the opportunities would come up there if so.

      • ilikeradiohead on 28/09/2017 - 11:13
        +1

        Perth was growing rapidly in mining related work but that has petered off recently. There are still a lot of jobs available, although not sure about software development related ones.

  • neonlight on 28/09/2017 - 06:45
    +11

    Sydney used to be good. Now it's a very stressful city, lack of infrastructure, expensive living costs, not so friendly commuters and neighbours, selfishness in general.

    That pay rise you get is not worth moving.

    You would feel better staying in Perth, it's not just the money but quality of life and better place for your kids grow up in a nicer environment.

    I've lived in Sydney 26 years can tell you this city quality of life isn't improving but getting worse over time. It dropped significantly against other major cities in recent times

    It sucks but that's the truth. The population density and the way how state government haven't done much to improve things have made things worse

    • 42 on 28/09/2017 - 11:15
      +2

      +1
      Sydney's become overdeveloped and crowded.

  • pennypincha on 28/09/2017 - 06:47
    +1

    OP, I'm in Brisbane in the digital / tech scene. Enough jobs here for good devs on $150k+, and an absolute lack of talent. I'm sure you could land a gig here pretty easily.

    Personally, having gone between here and Sydney on a frequent basis, I could not justify a move - even for another $50k.

    Maybe consider Brissy? More comparable to Perth in many ways, and a lot more cultured now too, I'd argue.

    • serpserpserp on 28/09/2017 - 20:29
      +1

      Brisbane more cultured than Perth? Hmm they'd be on par I reckon.

  • DarwinBoy on 28/09/2017 - 07:32
    +9

    Grab the missus and kids and go for a weeeknd holiday to Sydney.
    Visit the area. Look at some properties. Go out to dinner. Look at schools.
    See what you think yourself

  • Bnjam3 on 28/09/2017 - 07:40
    +8

    Book a 5 days holiday to Sydney and see it your self. I personally moved from Perth to Sydney from Early 2016 til Mid 2017 and it was the worst year in my life.

  • maverickjohn on 28/09/2017 - 08:12
    +1

    I skimmed but didnt notice.
    Have you looked in perth for new job opportunities and bargained with your company to raise your income?
    I live in sydney but on western side. To buy a property here is very expensive particularly in homebush and going east. A 3 bedroom house is already north of 1 million 4 bedroom hitting 1.5 easily. Apartments however are cheaper and can be had for sub 1m
    Annual and quarterly expenses may be similar but i believe theres a few extra payments such as green slip for your car etc.

    The pay rise is nice but if you can bargain your way to a higher payrise in Perth it might be much easier and sustainable for you

  • barbarella on 28/09/2017 - 08:26
    +5

    Stay in Perth if your kids are happy there and you have a good lifestyle already

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2017 - 09:30
    +5

    Don't do it. Public transport is a joke here, housing/rent is an absolute rip off. Cost of living extraordinary - sure Jobs are here but life isn't about commuting 1 hour + to work and paying $10 for a beer after work. Go to Brissy….I'd do it if i didn't have so much family and nephews/neices to watch grow up…

    • ilikeradiohead on 28/09/2017 - 11:14
      +2

      $10 is cheap for a pint in Perth haha. Most places are $12-$14 :|

  • Brianqpr on 28/09/2017 - 09:32
    +3

    No, the increased pay will largely be swallowed up in increased cost of living, especially housing if you want to live anywhere decent (why consider moving otherwise).

    Sydney is an overpriced, overrated rat race in my view. I've lived here for around 18 years. In that time it has become more crowded, far more expensive, stressed, and a far less friendly place.

    I don't know what schools are like in Perth but here its massively competitive to get into anything decent here with many families paying a lot of money for extensive tutoring to give themselves an advantage. If the system worked properly that wouldn't be needed. Not sure if that's such a big thing in other cities. Family ties and not wanting to disrupt the kids while still at school are the only things keeping me here.

    I'm amazed to see any positive comments about public transport in Sydney. If you are going to and from the CBD during peak times its ok. Otherwise it is shocking and light years behind cities such as London, Paris, New York etc. Very car dependent and the roads are always too busy. Infrastructure is always playing catch up.

    I would say no to the move unless you really dislike where you are. Look beyond the photos of the harbour. I would imagine the lifestyle in Perth is much better and certainly less expensive. There's also the family upheaval to consider.

  • 4foxache on 28/09/2017 - 09:46
    +2

    I'd have to say not worth it, once you factor in the higher costs of living especially housing you are probably at a net zero gain.

    Really comes down to where you want to live Sydney or Perth?

    Like others have said unless you really want to move to Sydney I doubt you'll feel any more well off due to the higher costs of living.

    For mine I'd move if I thought there was more room for career progression and I preferred living in Sydney. Money in this case I don't think is the decider.

  • sergun on 28/09/2017 - 10:18
    +2

    There used to be one of original wall decorations at the Town Hall train station in Sydney (not sure if it's still there - it's been ages): a flea sticking to a dog. Words underneath it say: "When You Have Something Good, Stick With It".

  • haidasalami on 28/09/2017 - 10:28

    Don't do it!

  • frostman on 28/09/2017 - 10:57

    SYD = boring and expensive city.

  • Abaddon on 28/09/2017 - 11:00
    +1

    How much of a commute are you happy with?

    1.25-1.5 hours and you can:

    a) Live near the beach (central coast or Wollongong)
    b) Rent for the same as you are now or less (I'm on $430 a week, modern 3 bedroom house, hour and fifteen commute to the CBD, 5 minutes to the beach)

    I'd much rather that than 50 minutes to an hour and live out west

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2017 - 11:06

    It's around $25k/year after tax, while rent prices may be as much as 20k/year extra (assuming ~$875/week). It's only worth it if you prefer the lifestyle in Sydney - the wealth difference is negligible.

  • MetaphorOZB on 28/09/2017 - 11:24
    +2

    Part of your financial considerations should be that $130k is about $92k after tax and $170k is about $116k after tax. This is a net increase of about $24k.

    • ely on 30/09/2017 - 01:47

      Succinct. In total it's even less ($175k is ~$109k after super, medicare and taxes), and Sydney is way more expensive than Perth - especially now. The property "boom" in Sydney makes it a nightmare for families and the property "crash" in Perth makes it heaven. Having lived there briefly, Perth is boring, but probably a decent place to raise a family - I wouldn't hurry to leave.

  • ssyl9 on 28/09/2017 - 11:51

    If you are asking this question, you are not ready for the move.

    Thing is, moving interstate is a lot more than just costs of living and such.

    Think this way, I presume you have lived in Perth quite long, are you willing to leave all your friends and family in Perth to go Sydney where there are little support?

    Are you willing to spend time and effort to make new friendships around Sydney?

    Are you willing to sacrifice time for your kids/wife to comfort/support them because of the big move?

    All these emotional and physical stress you have to think about when you move. The money is lessor of a problem.

    If you are really emotionally strong enough, you wont be here asking this question.

    I for one will not move

    In Perth I am already travelling 30~40 min to and from work and already feel like I am wasting too much time sitting in traffic/trains.

    I cant imagine sitting in traffic for close to 3 hours a day (1.5 hour trips).

    If you take into account the extra rent that is gonna cost you and the extra hours you will be travelling (I count commute to and from work as working as well) you didn't actually get any payrise…

  • KRM123 on 28/09/2017 - 12:15
    +5

    Why not approach your current workplace, and explain that you have been made a better offer which you are seriously considering.

    If they value you, then they hopefully offer you a decent payrise to keep you. If they don't value you then they probably won't, in which case you may not want to work for them much longer anyway as you may never progress and you can then take the new job. If they offer you the payrise, then talk it over with the family and if you are still undecided, go back to your new potential employer and explain the old employer have offered a pay rise, and you would need further incentive to move your family across (i.e you're asking for more)

    Win/Win

    Work the system buddy.

  • JetLi on 28/09/2017 - 12:44
    +2

    What it comes down to is 1) whether this career move will lead to you potentially earning big money in your industry in the near future (i.e. a stepping stone to a $250k - $350k job), not just that $170k package which is currently on offer and 2) whether your wife and kids hate Perth and really want to live in Sydney. As many others have already pointed out, you will be worse off financially on the $170k package, also prepare to spend a lot more time at work & travelling to/from work as Sydney is a massive rat race, no free lunch in this world mate.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2017 - 12:53
    +1

    money isn't everything.

    Ignore the money and ask yourself if you would move.

  • vetopower on 28/09/2017 - 13:02
    +4

    I agree with the majority of posters advising not to move.

    Your post-tax pay rise will be completely swallowed by higher living costs in Sydney. And your quality of life will be worse because Sydney is overcrowded with dilapidated infrastructure, meaning it will take you longer to get to places and you'll have to contend with more people once you get to these places.

    Personally, I wouldn't take a family of four to Sydney unless you were offered $500K+/year. Only when you are earning that sort of money can you take advantage of Sydney's nice features (eg live in a good house by the harbour, pay for taxis/ubers everywhere so that you do not have the stress of driving in awful traffic, frequent trips away to escape the madness, etc).

    For anyone earning under that figure, you will get a higher quality of life elsewhere in Australia.

  • Zanadar on 28/09/2017 - 13:19
    +2

    NO WAY!

  • sw00p on 28/09/2017 - 13:31
    +1

    Good luck with the absolute shitfight that is trying to get your kids into Out Of School Hours Care if you both work…

  • coupeborgward on 28/09/2017 - 13:32

    Stay in perth. Much better lifestyle over there. Sydney may be iconic but that will wear off really quickly.

    The increase in salary is not that much to be honest

  • Coatesy on 28/09/2017 - 13:35
    +1

    Not sure how much help this will be. I'm from Perth and spent my summer in Sydney working. I largely agree with most of the comments regarding Sydney vs Perth, I was hoping to shed some light on the schooling situation.

    In Sydney, it seems the best schools academically, are actually the public independent schools. Although your kids may need extra help to enter the school, once they enter it'll largely be cost free. Compared to Perth the top academic schools are largely private and expensive, think 20k a year each. There are public schools that rank highly, however they'll require you to live in an expensive suburb.

    Even with that, I think it'd be better to stay in Perth, unless of course you're moving for the career. Public transport I think is similar to Perth, great if you live inner city, not so great if you live in the suburbs.

    • Brianqpr on 28/09/2017 - 15:19
      +3

      The only reason those top (selective) public schools perform so well is the culture among some of spending all their time and money on tutoring to get kids into those schools in the first place. It aint the schools producing the good results, its the tutoring classes. In my view this leads to schools becoming lazy with a lot of the hard work to keep their scores looking respectable done for them outside of school hours.

      This pathway is certainly not for everyone due to affordability and also the desire of some for their kids to actually have an enjoyable and fun childhood to look back on rather than spending all their evenings and weekend getting better at maths.

      • ely on 30/09/2017 - 01:43

        It's not the tutoring, it's the culture of families that value education that makes them pony up for the tutoring; the tutoring itself is largely irrelevant.

  • RainbowHands on 28/09/2017 - 13:40
    +1

    if you're ambitious, leave the family in perth, take the job, get the payrise, stay for around a year, use your salary to negotiate your way back into perth with similar or higher pay

  • scepticpsych on 28/09/2017 - 13:43
    +2

    I moved from Sydney to Perth, then back to Sydney and regret it every day.

    • danyool on 29/09/2017 - 06:20
      +2

      Move again!

      • scepticpsych on 29/09/2017 - 14:35
        +1

        I couldn't find a job :( But maybe

  • ZloyKrys on 28/09/2017 - 13:58
    +1

    Lived in Perth, moved to Melbourne but travel to Sydney frequently on business including fairly long stay overs (multiple week). For $500-a-week I am sure you live in a nice suburb not far away from beaches and you can actually buy that house on your salary alone. In Sydney, to be in the same position in a remotely affordable area, say Northern Beaches, not even thinking of Eastern Suburbs, you will need to fork out at least twice more plus you won't be able to buy a house there on the proposed salary. So, all in all, you will be stuck in traffic or in overloaded public transport AND/OR live in Western Sydney (think Armadale in Perth but worse, etc), it's not worth it at all. Plus even on $250k job which you may or may not progress to, you may perhaps afford to live in a comparable place to Perth, but you won't get back all that time you spend chasing those dollars. Any jams on Mitchell freeway are just small inconvenience comparing to what is considered "normal" Sydney traffic, also you may be shocked about amount of tolls you need to pay just to do basic travel

    I had options to move to Sydney and/or Melbourne and Melbourne was so much better that I wake up every morning grinding. Another option if you are after money is Canberra, also great for kids but it's cold and closest beaches are hours away.

    I think it's not worth it.

  • Yoo05 on 28/09/2017 - 14:44
    +1

    Run a postal vote, might get more replies than the current voting going on. lol..

  • pom on 28/09/2017 - 14:47

    If you can deal with the commute, you don't have to live in Sydney to work in Sydney.

  • Ctn on 28/09/2017 - 14:55
    +2

    If I were you, I'd move to Sydney.
    If I weren't you, I'd tell you not to come here, it's crowded enough as it is.

  • Wakasonu on 28/09/2017 - 16:08

    I as someone experienced some sort of relocation, I would strongly recommend NOT to do that , reasons , living cost, life balance, traffic, need to leave your comfort zone, and last one is the most important one

  • Mumbles on 28/09/2017 - 16:22
    +1

    If time with the kids and wife is important then best to stay Perth. Factor in how much longer it takes to commute to work, the further walking distance to car parking, hassles of shopping centre parking, extra time spent dropping kids off at school, time on the trains (including park 'n' ride). Tally it over a year and you've lost days off your life because of Sydney traffic. Tally that across the 4 lives (parents, 2 kids) and that could be weeks.

    On the other hand if you instead prefer to avoid your kids + wife (or vice versa) then definitely move to Sydney.

    Not everything is about money. If finances was the criteria then dump the kids and wife to triple available disposable income.

    • ely on 30/09/2017 - 01:40

      If finances was the criteria then dump the kids and wife to triple available disposable income.

      Such a tempting option…

  • ajGold on 28/09/2017 - 16:57

    You could work in Sydney but not live in it. That might make your move worthwhile because, in my opinion, Sydney just doesn't offer good value in terms of lifestyle vs cost.

    I work for a software company in Sydney CBD and travel in 3 days a week from a 'regional' area. We have all the amenities of the city with lower living costs, more space, good schools and without the BS like traffic, but my sacrifice is a long trip. That said, the CBD is easier to get to than those industrial park areas.

    Ultimately my opinion is that 170k won't buy you much more in the way of happiness than 130k, but it might buy you some further career opportunity.

  • westernculture on 28/09/2017 - 17:42

    This might be AWS developer role. The salary range sounds like it. Most IT companies won't pay more than 150k as senior developer. There're even couple or roles in Macq Park only paying 90k for senior dev.

  • PuppieWayne on 28/09/2017 - 17:58

    I think it's best for you to plan a trip with your family to Sydney and have a look around; find out what school(s) your kids will be enrolled in and take them there..

    Once you and your family seen the place and potential place you guys be living at, then make your decision.

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