Working in Regional or Metro?

Sydneyswans on 28/07/2023 - 14:34
Last edited 28/07/2023 - 14:59

I work in finance and my partner works in administration/accounting. We have only been together a few months yet she is already suggesting we can move to regional Australia because the rent in say Dubbo for a 3 bed roomer is say $350 a week vs our $500 a week rent in Sydney for a similar sized house in western Sydney, or when we plan to buy getting a 3 bedroom house for under 500k.

She thinks that we would be able to survive by working in say a Woolies job, or a farmhand or back office job in say a trucking company or we could even look into mining. Claims she has a mate who moved out towards Dunedoo (duboo ish area) and paid under 350k for a house a few years ago).

I'm very skeptical of this. . I have been working in an office job for the last 15 years or so and think this will put be me back a step. Yes there is remote work but I am concerned about being told to head back to the office like 50% off the time. I have nothing against working in the office but I don't believe I will be able to find a 100% remote job in finance/brokerage/banking etc. We can already see the struggles in say Coffs Harbour where its getting impossible to find rentals and the locals are being pushed out by the remote workers who just moved in during covid.

Changing careers is another option to save a few bob moving to the country when goods and services, water and electricity may likely of similar price to the metro areas? Plus the time taken to retrain would be a lot to consider.

I think as a compromise I can live say as far as Wollongong or Gosford but even those house/rental prices would be comparable to Sydney. How should I approach the situation?

EDIT: Can I just say I am not looking at moving regionally BUT if it is possible to continue working in my same career remotely and save money with the cost of living I will consider it. I am just looking at the best way to explain to my other half the benefits and drawbacks.

Education & Work

Comments

  • Johnsmithaus on 28/07/2023 - 14:41
    +3

    Why bother moving? Because your new partner says so or because you want to? The cheaper housing argument doesn't sound like something you have concerns with with if I understand correctly

    • Sydneyswans on 28/07/2023 - 14:43

      I don't mind moving. I just was wondering if it is possible to move and still keep the similar income and if moving to regional is actually cheaper.

      • cookie2 on 29/07/2023 - 07:18
        +5

        Have you compared your current wage to any advertised jobs in Dubbo (that you'd be happy and skilled enough to do)?
        Nobody else can answer that for you without knowing your current wage and the work you could do.

  • GG57 on 28/07/2023 - 14:42
    +1

    Have you researched property prices in Dubbo?

    • Sydneyswans on 28/07/2023 - 14:44
      +2

      I just checked. Its cheaper than Sydney but still over 400k mark.

      • GG57 on 28/07/2023 - 14:45
        +1

        Ok, so that addresses part of your partner's claims (for a purchase), what about rentals?
        Have you researched the job market in Dubbo?

        • Sydneyswans on 28/07/2023 - 14:49
          +3

          I grew up in Wagga Wagga and know the difficulty in finding work regionally. Rental prices are reasonable but highly unlikely we will find a similar job with similar salary in a regional area. I am trying to explain that to her.

          • Iwantthebestprice on 28/07/2023 - 14:52
            +3

            @Sydneyswans: This is true. I’ve lived regional for a period of time made less than half what I could make doing my job in a major city. It’s a struggle unless you find a field that requires workers due to a shortage or in a field such as medical.
            Very risky OP approach with caution

            • Sydneyswans on 28/07/2023 - 14:55

              @Iwantthebestprice: Exactly. I'm not looking to move back to regional I am just seeking advice on how to talk her out of it. OR if it is possible would there be a way of working in the same industry remotely. However one would assume fuel and consumer goods etc would be more expensive in regional areas and such so in a way its not a win win situation.

              • Iwantthebestprice on 28/07/2023 - 14:58
                +3

                @Sydneyswans: I shopped at the regional IGA/Foodworks and my god you have no idea on cost!
                Less range and double the price..

                • CurlCurl on 28/07/2023 - 15:17
                  -1

                  @Iwantthebestprice:

                  I shopped at the regional IGA/Foodworks and my god you have no idea on cost!
                  Less range and double the price..

                  Lets see. Dubbo has Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Myer, Big W, Kmart, Harvey Norman jb hi fi, Supercheap, Repco, Chemist Wharehouse, Petbarn, BCF, Bob Jane, Best and Less, Freedom Furniture, Fantastic Furniture and many more. Hardly a hick town.

                  If you compare Crookwell that is regional where we were in November last year and Mandarins were $18.95 a kilo I agree.

  • freefall101 on 28/07/2023 - 14:47
    +4

    Regional salaries are generally worse, unless there’s a major employer struggling to attract employees (like mining).

    Saving $150 a week is only 7500 a year, sounds like your incomes would be cut by more than that

    • Sydneyswans on 28/07/2023 - 14:48

      exactly my thoughts.

    • CurlCurl on 28/07/2023 - 15:24

      Plenty of Admin jobs in Dubbo at $34 per hour.

      I have no idea what your title is in finance but there a a number of jobs with 'finance' in the title including this.

      https://www.seek.com.au/job/68581223?type=standard#sol=a68a5…

    • infinite on 29/07/2023 - 21:21
      +2

      You also then have those savings completely negated by how much more expensive food, energy and all other lifestyle factors will be. Also, good luck ever getting any basic levels of reliable healthcare, etc….

  • Iwantthebestprice on 28/07/2023 - 14:48
    +31

    Might just be slightly cheaper to find a new girlfriend

    • pharkurnell on 28/07/2023 - 14:51
      +2

      beat me too it

    • Drakesy on 28/07/2023 - 15:02
      +2

      Or just not have one at all

      • No and then on 29/07/2023 - 08:21
        +6

        Can't live with them, can't live without them.

        As my colleague would always say, "If trees had vaginas, he'd live in the forest"

  • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2023 - 14:56
    +9

    Aside from the costs, you need to determine properly whether or not regional living is for the both of you.

    I love going to regional areas on holiday but know I would struggle being far away from family & friends. It's also harder to be without a support network when you have kids.

    • Sydneyswans on 28/07/2023 - 14:56

      Yes that too

      • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2023 - 15:01

        Are you living together?

  • Drakesy on 28/07/2023 - 15:02
    +6

    Tree changes are rarely as good as they cracked up to be. She may have a romanticised thought about this but leaving your friends/family behind effectively cuts off your fallback in case you do break up.
    The loss in amenity is largely what you're paying for.

    Maybe for retirement, but unless you have something lined up in that town then i probably wouldn't do it.

  • Crow K on 28/07/2023 - 15:14
    +10

    We have only been together a few months yet she is already suggesting we can move to regional Australia

    Yeesh, giant red flag for me. This is like "it's our fourth date, we should have matching tattoos".

    "Working in administration" is a lower tier skill too (if we are using "admin" as the new way of saying receptionist/secretary), easier to pick up and move to a different role at the drop of the hat. Big difference in job vs career.

    • pharkurnell on 28/07/2023 - 15:18
      +5

      Yeesh, giant red flag for me

      red flag is understatement.. more like nuclear explosion.

    • Some Human on 28/07/2023 - 15:24
      +2

      Also isolating OP from his family and friends is another bright red flag

      • Crow K on 28/07/2023 - 15:26
        +2

        I don't know enough but I'd bet they're more of a "free spirit/doesn't think about long term stuff" than "manipulating sociopath".

        Either way, it sounds like they each have different speeds/priorities.

        • Some Human on 28/07/2023 - 17:15
          +4

          I watch too much true crime…

    • TEER3X on 29/07/2023 - 07:22

      Yep they still on they honeymoon baby

  • EFC94 on 28/07/2023 - 15:20
    +3

    Living together after only a few months, wants to move regional after only a few months, suggesting quitting your career for retail work. Full time at woolies with some penalty rates after tax will get you $8-900 a week, compare that to your current job and do some quick maths on the difference and the same with your housing situation and you should figure out if its viable.

    Lucky for you it's only early in the relationship and you don't have kids yet.

  • Some Human on 28/07/2023 - 15:27

    Keep in mind regional prices grow much slower than city prices if you're planning to buy. Also travel / fuel to visit friends, family or even to go to a decent shopping centre. And the drive to see specialists if you get sick.

  • WreckTangle on 28/07/2023 - 15:48
    +4

    Living in regional areas is great, with little traffic and easy living. It’s hard to get out though… finding jobs and affordable housing If you want to move back to the city. Whilst regional property prices might appreciate, they wont keep up with property prices in Melbourne or Sydney, locking you out of metro areas in the future.

  • JenPat on 28/07/2023 - 15:50
    +8

    As someone who lives in Dubbo. You will not get a 3 bedroom in a nice area for $350. In the street I live in rentals are around $500.

  • p1 ama on 28/07/2023 - 16:12
    +3

    I work in finance and my partner works in administration/accounting. We have only been together a few months yet she is already suggesting we can move to regional Australia because the rent in say Dubbo for a 3 bed roomer is say $350 a week vs our $500 a week rent in Sydney for a similar sized house in western Sydney, or when we plan to buy getting a 3 bedroom house for under 500k.

    Are you currently living together or not? If not, then she can live wherever she wants and you can live wherever you want and whatever will happen to the relationship will happen.

    I don't see why two people who've only been together for a few months should be making decisions on these matters.

    She thinks that we would be able to survive by working in say a Woolies job, or a farmhand or back office job in say a trucking company

    This sounds pretty stupid to be honest. If you currently work in finance, there are plenty of finance jobs which are based in regional centers, e.g. a banker (usually SME) based out of a regional branch, corporate finance functions of enterprises based out of regional centers…etc. Even failing all of that, there are plenty of finance jobs where you can work almost fully remotely with perhaps a few days in the office per month (which is a completely doable commute from most regional centres).

    What's even more stupid is that she's suggesting you take a pretty significant paycut for a savings of ~$150 / week on rent, which is ludicrous.

    or we could even look into mining.

    Has she ever worked in "mining"? As someone who has worked in the resources sector, the vast majority of people who have never worked in mining, don't know anything about the resources sector, not even been to a mine is bonkers.

    Mining is an incredibly challenging working environment for a variety of different reasons, least of which are the personal risks and FIFO. Even an "office job" with a miner that's based on-site can be incredibly challenging. Yes, you are paid well, but there is a reason why it's very difficult to recruit for them, the sacrifices you have to make in your personal life are extremely high.

    Claims she has a mate who moved out towards Dunedoo (duboo ish area) and paid under 350k for a house a few years ago).

    So?

    Changing careers is another option to save a few bob moving to the country when goods and services, water and electricity may likely of similar price to the metro areas? Plus the time taken to retrain would be a lot to consider.

    But why, this would almost certainly make you worse off.

    I think as a compromise I can live say as far as Wollongong or Gosford but even those house/rental prices would be comparable to Sydney. How should I approach the situation?

    Live where it makes most sense for you. $150 per week in rent is not going to move the needle if you're a reasonably well-paid professional (which by your post, you are).

    EDIT: Can I just say I am not looking at moving regionally BUT if it is possible to continue working in my same career remotely and save money with the cost of living I will consider it.

    There are plenty of employers who offer (almost) fully remote working. I have friends who've not been in an office and are out hiking somewhere whilst working during the day. Point is, opportunities are there if you want them, but all opportunities have trade-offs that you will have to manage. This is a different question re. whether you want to live regionally or not.

    I am just looking at the best way to explain to my other half the benefits and drawbacks.

    You've been with her for a few months, how is she "your other half"? You barely even know someone after a few months…

    • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2023 - 16:16
      +2

      how is she "your other half"?

      She completes OP

  • Transient on 28/07/2023 - 16:55

    You can always do the big commute when you need to go into the office 2 or 3 days a week. Even before covid and inflation there were people at work who lived in Newcastle / Wollongong who commuted 5 days a week into the Sydney CBD. They moved there for the lifestyle / family / cheaper accomm costs but were prepared to wake up earlier for the commute. Less work life balance back then.

  • Benoffie on 28/07/2023 - 18:32
    +9

    Be honest. This isnt your wife, not even a fiance. This is a couple of months worth of relationship where cards are starting to go on the table.

    If you cannot be honest now, when can you?

    Tell her precisely what you've said here - i come from country NSW and damned if Im going back. Maybe when Im 60. With my rocking chair and porch. Yeap.

  • HardQuiz on 28/07/2023 - 18:53

    Have you checked the job market in said regional city ?

  • netjock on 28/07/2023 - 20:04
    +3

    my partner works in administration/accounting

    Audit your partner's numbers because they don't seem to make sense.

  • elgrande on 28/07/2023 - 21:31
    +1

    You shouldn't have told her about the 5 o'clock wave.

  • hibiscus on 28/07/2023 - 22:06

    Sorry if this seems intrusive, but I think you got to be sure about your rel’ship before uprooting yourself. You might save a hundred a week or so but the cost of moving is significant, and if you were to ever lose your job, then you have far less employment opportunities regionally - could you trust your partner to support you whilst you look for another ?

  • DBBROS on 28/07/2023 - 23:51

    I've only lived rural and for me the biggest drawback is access to healthcare and services.

  • TheOtherLeft on 29/07/2023 - 08:32
    +1

    So you've only been together a few months and she's already trying to drastically change your life. I'd be worried about your future

  • tabitha731 on 29/07/2023 - 09:27

    Forget about job issues in regional areas…. How do u think u would cope socially in a regional area. Life may be “cheaper” but wats the point in living a cheaper life, if its not enjoyable? Yes sure housing could potentially be cheaper, but day to day life things could be more expensive, everything has to be shipped in and delivery time frames aren’t as convenient as metro areas.I do know of many friends who work in corporations that have requested its staff to return back to the office more days, but given they have more to regional areas, they have been exempt from coming into the office as other staff in metro areas are, but they are required to come into the office at least once a month. I personally think that arrangement is more inconvenient than living in the metro area, and commuting into the office a few days a week.

    • DBBROS on 29/07/2023 - 14:37
      +1

      People who live rural actually have a much enjoyable life . The inconveniences you can always live with it

  • Sleeqb7 on 29/07/2023 - 09:30

    In my experience growing up in a rural-ish city (2hr drive from closest capital (When I was growing up it was 3hrs, but still));
    Yeah, property is cheaper. But there are significantly less facilities, and far less jobs.

    If you have a job when heading there, and you don't care about a multi hour drive for many quality of life activities, then go for it.
    Going without a job is potentially pretty risky.

  • fishing on 29/07/2023 - 09:45
    +5

    Moved regional two years ago
    Never looked back
    Jobs came with free housing and free utilities
    Workplace 10 minute walk
    No commute so don’t fill the car every week
    Complete bliss and reduced stress
    Great mental health
    Reduced shopping choices…. More money in the bank

    • ssfps on 30/07/2023 - 01:33

      Shut up! We don't need more people filling up our regional towns.

  • 2esc on 29/07/2023 - 13:11
    +2

    Ive lived in regional Victoria all my life and have visited Melboure many times in the past.

    There is no way in hell i would move to the city.

    Though you need to make a list of what you do need your new town to have.

    My town is a bit too small if i decided to move now the list would be,

    *Minimum 2 supermarkets(competition keeps prices respectable).
    *A hospital with a emergengency department.
    *Heated public pool.

    If your town has those it should then have most other things you need. Or at very least the neighbouring town needs to have things you need.

    Some specialists will still require trips to the city.
    Where are your extended family? How far are you prepared to travel to visit them or have them visit you? 2 hours drive? 6?

    Travel the regional areas to check out these places. Your best bet is a town that has other towns within 30 minutes drive for other options for shopping.

  • groovyg on 29/07/2023 - 14:26
    +4

    As someone who just moved away from Dubbo due to high crime rates, I would not recommend Dubbo personally.

    However if you are looking towards a lower cost of living, slower paced, cheaper, I would suggest looking towards Albury - Wodonga which has excellent facilities, is well connected by road, train, air (flights), and has decent schools (if relevant to you).

    Do consider what is important to you and what you can live without before making the move regional.

    Personally I love it, coming from having made the switch from Melbourne to regional living 6 years now.

  • bigsaver on 29/07/2023 - 16:24

    Remember this is the most important decision of your life, i.e., living together with your partner ;)
    As someone who is about to hand over 50% to someone else who contributed less than 5% of the total wealth I'd say be careful and make sure you call it a day before 2 years if it's not going well .. I guess moving regionally will stress test the relationship a bit so that's a great move from that point of view

  • jm7 on 29/07/2023 - 17:54
    +2

    If my partner suggested I trade my career to become a supermarket worker, I'd leave him. What a boring, unsatisfying job with measly pay. There's more to a job than just the money…

  • Aerith-Waifu on 29/07/2023 - 20:07

    Is she hot? Or is he hot? Sorry have to ask both or I will be called a sexist lol

  • Willy Beamish on 29/07/2023 - 20:08

    We have only been together a few months.

    no

  • fozzie on 29/07/2023 - 20:19
    +1

    Op I would, first of all, slow down. You have been together only a few months. Also by your name it sounds like you love Sydney and sport. You will find it hard to go to watch a match . And family. Also giving up an office job for working for Woolies? How about your career?

  • infinite on 29/07/2023 - 21:29
    +7

    LOL, imagine under any circumstances at all telling a partner to give up a career role, to go work in a supermarket out in the middle of nowhere, Wut?

    I can understand saying "let's move interstate/overseas for better career role's than we have now", or "let's go country to get the foot in the door to kick off a high paying career (Medicine, Law, Engineering, Junior Executive roles, etc…..). But let's go work shit jobs so we can have a slightly cheaper shitty rental……… what the absolute hell.

    Run while you can from this relationship, don't look back.

  • Raif on 29/07/2023 - 21:49

    Relationship length aside, I'll offer some thoughts. I do think you need to be considering the move for the right reasons. At the moment it sounds like your decision is more around what your partner wants than what is driving you.

    I did a similar transition (Sydney to Central West). I also lived in some other regional areas before ending up here. Personally, it was one of the best things I ever did. I moved here really just to give something different a go, as I was over the grind of Sydney. In Sydney I used to spend several hours a day commuting/traveling, buying a house was decades off, my friends rented tiny places, in concrete jungles. There were lots of great things on, and great places to go, but it felt like half the time the travel meant we hardly ended up going to them. The cost of living was another barrier.

    Since moving, I love visiting Sydney, but can't imagine moving back. I've never struggled for work. Some regional areas did offer less for roles than Sydney but regional hubs always seemed to be competitive, and this only became more so during/since the pandemic where the towns have boomed. Most regional cities are desperate for staff in multitudes of roles. Finance and accounting skills are in demand, and progression can be quick, particularly in government roles. I've managed to build a housing portfolio that I never could have done, living in Sydney. The area is beautiful, and while the town isn't as well-provisioned as Sydney, it has all the music, comedy, breweries, wineries, and restaurants I could ever want.

    There are issues. I do miss my friends, travelling to see them is tough, but flying helps if you can budget for that. Public education options are limited (mainly due to teacher shortages). Making new friends can be tough, and each town has at least one dodgy area that I recommend finding out before you move, etc. Getting a tradie around takes an age. Rental market was tight, but there has been some stabilisation in most hubs.

    Anyway, hope this helps. For me, I just love the lifestyle, spending more time with my family, and the additional financial security.

  • drprox on 29/07/2023 - 22:13

    Just wanted to say I drive up to Brisbane a few months ago and apart from a lovely zoo Dubbo is a total hole, you were just giving an example I think…
    Otherwise if you work in finance I'd expect you'd be fine in a major regional town. The big 4 are well represented so you can enjoy some arbitrage given you'd get paid the same but have a way cheaper house. I had a colleague based in Hamilton VIC who could probably buy a house for just over a years wage!
    Edit - I should add I moved back to regional (albeit easy trip to Melbourne) 18 months ago and love it, no regrets.

  • miwahni on 29/07/2023 - 22:38

    I loved living in a regional area, a couple of hours west of Sydney. Housing was much cheaper but don't think you can sell up and move back to Sydney as you'll be priced out of the market. And there was no such thing as career progression - very little employment unless you wanted to work in the mines or the cement factory. If you work in finance, the best you can hope for is branch manager of a bank (eventually) and hope that it doesn't get caught up in the next round of closures….
    The lifestyle was great, but holidays always meant going back to Sydney to see family and friends rather than travelling to somewhere interesting. Insurance for house and for car was much cheaper, but groceries were much more expensive.
    Finally I couldn't stand the cold in winter - once you get away from the coastal fringe, those winter nights are pretty brutal. Hence my move to the north coast and eventually to Brisbane.

  • IM-Cheap on 30/07/2023 - 04:28

    We considered moving regional and in our numbers we also considered that an equivalent house is at most half the cost so mortgage repayments would be less than half as our deposit will go further. Anything over 80% of our salary we'd be better off. Currently researching for a regional town with sufficient industrial stability and easy connections to a capital city. We're not interested in a career change so stability of employment and potential career growth is importan.

    You should crunch the numbers yourself and assess the job opportunities to see what options are out there… not just because your partner wants it.

  • May4th on 30/07/2023 - 08:12

    regional is fine but you need to think about your career progression
    whilst entry level jobs are easy to find, you don't want to be working minimum wage in a high turnover job when you are 50+
    you need to make sure you develop the skills you need to hold down a decent job in your chosen field, and find one in regional areas before considering such a move

    if the question is more whether there's 100% remote jobs it really depends on what your field is and you'll need to narrow it down a bit for people to contribute

  • tessel on 30/07/2023 - 12:59

    If you can do your job remotely in a regional city then go for it. You'll have fewer restaurants and shops to waste your money on and generally speaking rates etc will be cheaper. Keep in mind however that covid pushed up houses prices in these regional cities a lot. Yes, they are cheaper than Sydney but now you've got to go really rural to find prices that were very common in even early 2020 just before covid hit. In many areas prices have almost doubled.

  • grr1701 on 30/07/2023 - 13:08

    Your partner is in accounting (not an accountant, I suspect) so ask HER to do a comparison of realistic savings. Current wages plus current expenditures versus REALISTIC wages and expenditures for her “new job”. Then present it to you as a spreadsheet.
    If you move and then part company, you’ve probably taken a backward step.

  • SydBoy on 30/07/2023 - 13:37
    +1

    finding a house with 3 bed in a sydney suburb with good school without gun crime within $500 is impossible … minimum allow at-least $700 per week so if you move to country side with a rent of around $350 then you will be saving $350 per week or $18,200 per year just by moving to country side and that is after tax so before tax it is about $26,000 at 30% tax rate .. which is the amount you can let go in your income by moving to regional area … !

    on the same token things like grocery, medical are expensive compare to Sydney where you can easily find bulkbill GP and free pathology test.. !

    obviously, sydney requires much bigger deposit to buy house compare to regional area so there are plus and minus in both life style.. !

    the biggest issue with regional area is employment and that is the only reason i am not moving else i would … !

  • Wasabi Ninja on 30/07/2023 - 20:13

    Perth mate. Cheap houses and you don’t need a career change.

  • cupcake on 10/08/2023 - 16:39

    Just tell her moving isn't on the cards until you have both made a commitment to each other.
    Hint - start saving for a ring.
    A few months is still early on.
    Housing is cheaper in regional areas but the travel might not be worth it. Regional areas have a lack of resources still.
    If the income of a new job is lower, then I wouldn't. Move forward, not backward.

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