Australia has been consistently ranked as one of the most expensive to live. Australia is also consistently ranked as the most popular country for relocation and immigration. The truth is a number of the studies done on the most expensive countries are severely flawed and limited because there are many variations of the same product on the market. How can you be sure the researchers are comparing apples with apples?

A pint of beer costing US$8.20 notwithstanding; third most expensive in the world after France and Singapore according to the research, there are many benefits of relocating to Australia.

1. High Wage Rates

Despite the recent decline in value of the Australian Dollar which actually began in April 2013, overall it has doubled its value vis-à-vis the US Dollar from April 2001 to September 2011.

Thus, while visitors may find it expensive in Australia, for locals the Australian Dollar can buy them a great deal of comfort and convenience. Australia also has one of the highest average salaries in the world.

Wages are a factor of production and a cost of business which explains why prices of domestically produced items have been rising. However, the stronger Aussie dollar has made importation of cheaper alternatives more affordable the last decade which has put a damper on the rate of inflation.

2. Great Work Opportunities

Australia is constantly looking for skilled workers especially those who have completed study in a university with a degree in Information Technology, Accounting and service related fields. There is also demand for professionals such as doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers and mining engineers.

For immigrants with experience in technical work there is great demand of machinists, carpenters, fitters, plumbers and construction project managers. The demand for these positions validates the strength of Australia’s real estate market.

Furthermore, Australia pays the highest minimum wage rate in the world.

3. Strong and Stable Economy

Australia is projected to be one of the world’s strongest economies going to the year 2030.

In 2015, Australia’s economy grew by 3% which exceeded the estimate of 2.7%. This is the highest gain experienced by Australia’s economy since 2012. Australia’s strong economic performance is largely due to the contributions of the services sector. But its overall economic improvement is owed in large part to its abundance of agricultural and natural mineral resources.

Australia is also considered a major financial center in the world with the city of Sydney widely recognized as the financial hub of Asia – Pacific.

4. Life and Work Balance

Australia pays you well because it expects you to produce results for the company you work for and the economy. But at the same time, the country recognizes the need for having a balanced life.

In 2015, Australia was ranked 4^th among countries which offer the best quality of life for its citizens. Only Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are ranked higher than Australia which placed higher than the United States and Canada.

5. Great Attractions and Activities

Australia is home to many of the world’s greatest attractions. These include the following:

• Sydney Opera House
• Great Barrier Reef
• Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park
• Sydney Harbour Bridge
• Blue Mountains National Park

Of these, the Sydney Opera House made it as #31 among the Top 50 attractions in the world.

There are also a plethora of great activities you can do in Australia. Among the most popular activities are as follows:

• Swim with the whale sharks at Ningaloo
• Take a trip at the Great Barrier Reef
• Learn to sail at Darling Harbour
• Swim with dolphins at Rockingham Bay
• Ride horses at Snowy Mountain

If you have decided to migrate to Australia, you have to give thought and planning to the relocation process.

Transporting Your Personal Belongings. Whenever you move to a new location especially migrating to a new country, you would most certainly bring many personal possessions. It is not uncommon for immigrants to bring several boxes worth of personal possessions because these remind them of home and it removes the necessity of buying new things.

There are two ways by which you can bring your personal belongings to Australia.

• Hire a removalist or mover. These companies specialise in packing and transporting goods internationally. They have affiliates worldwide that can assist with you with importing via air or sea freight. A mover can assist you in clearing your boxes through quarantine.

• Contract a freight forwarding company. The freight forwarder can move your goods to Australia whereupon you can have your Customs Broker clear your packages through quarantine.

Clearing Through Customs. It is easy to get sentimental with personal possessions. Each piece or artifact could represent a cherished memory or special event in your life. It may not be realistic to bring every item you own to Australia. And even if you could, some items may not pass through Customs.

• Check with Australian customs to find out which items can be brought to Australia. Customs has very strict guidelines which every immigrant must follow.
• Call the Australian mission and find out details and information on Australia’s customs and quarantine regulations.
• Once you have identified and selected the items you will bring to Australia, contact a few prospective movers and ask them to send you a quote. You should get at least 3 quotes.

Money and Finances. Before relocating, arrange your finances well ahead of time. Contact Immigration to find out how much money in the form of cash you can bring in. Of course, you can always bring Traveler’s Checks or have credit or debit cards handy.

Housing or Place of Residency. Make sure you have a place to stay when you get to Australia. As you well know, Australia’s real estate property prices are among the highest in the world.

It would be advisable to rent a place first before investing in your own home. Renting could be quite an expense but given the rising prices of real estate and the limited number of properties available, it may be better to put off an outright purchase first.

Transportation. Finally, make sure you have arranged for transportation to take you to your place of residence once you arrive in Australia. The airport can also lend you assistance through taxi and other transportation services within its facility.

Relocating to Australia would be one of the best decisions you will ever make in your life. It’s a great place to build a career and raise a family. Australia’s immigration process is one of the toughest in the world. But in the end, the rewards will be worth the effort.