Canberra to Sydney move - worth it?

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by Cimbom, 4th Oct, 2015.

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  1. Cimbom

    Cimbom Well-Known Member

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    Hello,

    Just doing a bit of thinking out loud. I have just applied for a job in Sydney. I'm not sure what my chances are as it's a pretty competitive/specialised field but the job itself is pretty appealing. I actually really like my current job but I'm considering leaving due to a terrible manager who has pretty much completly poisoned the work environment. One colleague has already done an internal transfer to avoid working with her further and some others don't really hide their feelings of her. I can't see myself tolerating her long term.

    Anyway, this new job looks great. It is higher paid - the range is 7 - 20k more than what I'm making now but I'm unlikely to start at the top of the pay scale so say 10-12k more as an average. We currently live in our mortgaged PPOR so we'd need to rent it out as an IP and put most of our larger items in storage. The job itself is in Ultimo and I'd want to live within a 30 min door-to-door commute (Canberra has made me spoilt in this regard :p). It's a one year contract and I'd probably take LWOP from my current role if i got it.

    I'm happy to rent an apartment but we don't have a car so the suburb needs to have good public transport. Do you think this would be worth it from a financial standpoint? Rents seem really high from the quick look I've had and I'm not sure if I'd make the move if I was losing money compared to our current arrangement. Of course, I have to get the job offer first but I guess it's worth thinking of these things in advance.

    Thanks :)
     
  2. HUGH72

    HUGH72 Well-Known Member

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    IMO it comes down to how much you dislike your present job, working in an environment which is toxic is bad for your health long term.
    As you don't own any property in Sydney which you could live in your living expenses are likely to much higher. Would you also have to pay transfer/ removal costs?
    I wouldn't consider a move to Sydney without at least an extra 50k and even them I would think twice due school fees etc.
     
  3. Cimbom

    Cimbom Well-Known Member

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    Thanks. I don't have kids so don't need to worry about that side of things. The employer does cover moving costs for some cases but I'm not sure if they would for this job. I'm thinking not due to the fact it's a contract but could be wrong.
     
  4. Rolf Latham

    Rolf Latham Inciteful (sic) Staff Member Business Plus Member

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    most of my friends are moving the other way

    ta

    rolf
     
  5. Mombius Hibachi

    Mombius Hibachi Well-Known Member

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    Forget Sydney, it's all about Melbourne, baby! For reals, move to Melbourne, aka the best city in Australia.

    DT has already made *most* of the move (from Perth to Adelaide), still working on getting him to make the additional move to a place that's actually worthwhile living in.
     
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  6. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    Sorry, but I wouldn't go Canberra. Too cold/too hot/not close to the water.

    But I am thinking I'd like to make the move to Brisbane though. The winter was perfect. I can handle 22°C winter days.... :)
     
  7. JDP1

    JDP1 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, and can you handle the 35degree +80% humidity summers? It's worse than a sauna.
     
  8. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    Well, my Brisbane house is by the Bay. :)
    Should be less extreme (?maybe?) than where I live in Sydney, which gets 40°C plus days in Summer. And we get high humidity here too.
     
    Last edited: 5th Oct, 2015
  9. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    I wouldn't ever want to live in Sydney. I like cheaper and quieter and Sydney is neither. Cimbom, knowing you work at a govt dept in belco (from SS), i'd stay there if you can. Perhaps a different role/section (or even dept there) would be better than relocating, especially financially.

    I like Adelaide. It's cheaper , quieter, still has good pubs / restaurants / etc and beaches we can take the dog. I also want to renovate / develop more in the future.
     
  10. Cimbom

    Cimbom Well-Known Member

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    I want to stay too but i do pretty specialised work and there's not a whole lot of other places here with similar opportunities that really excite me. I've found another 1-2 roles here that look OK but the one in Sydney is pretty rare and the type of thing I've wanted to do for a while. I guess I'll wait to see if I get an interview first :p
     
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  11. SouthBoy

    SouthBoy Well-Known Member

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    If I were you I'll take the job, if offered. A lot of things are in your favour. You have a job to walk back into in 12 months. You are gonna get some additional experience in your chosen field in the next 12 months. This can be a bargaining chip for future promotions and pay rises. You have no kids, so don't have to worry about disrupting the kids schooling. Ultimo is about 10 mins on light rail from Central station. So as long as you find a place 15-20 min from Central, you can achieve your 30min travel time. So depending on how much you want to pay for rent, you can live as far away Chatswood, Ashfield, DulwichHill...and reach work easily. You can use the 'plan your trip' option on below link to estimate the travel time to your work on public transport.

    http://www.sydneytrains.info/
     
  12. 380

    380 Well-Known Member

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    @Cimbom

    If work is in ultimo, Ashfield, Newtown, Chippendale, Wolli creek are few suburbs that may suit you best, if you aren't planning to buy car soon.

    Cost of living can be expensive/cheaper based on your lifestyle choices!

    7-12 k extra and an opportunity of living in Sydney for a year on trial base, sounds good option to me. (+ negative gearing benefits on PPoR turned IP)
     
  13. Nemo

    Nemo Well-Known Member

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    I'd take the job if you get it - taking lwop gives you a fallback.

    I changed jobs last year due to someone I couldn't work with. While I was happier, I missed my old job and definitely regretted leaving. People move around, if you stay, the other person will eventually leave.

    Good luck
     
  14. MarkB

    MarkB Well-Known Member

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    Tbh an extra 7 - 12k doesn't sound like enough to make the jump - unless (as others have mentioned) there is a bigger end game.
     
    Last edited: 5th Oct, 2015
  15. Cinch

    Cinch Well-Known Member

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    Take the job if you get it. Of the places I've lived, Sydney is by far the best. Excellent weather, city, beaches, and blue mountains only 1.5 h away. It's got to be a top 5 city globally
     
  16. DaveM

    DaveM Well-Known Member

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    I am currently preparing to move away from Sydney. After 16 years here I have had enough and want a change of pace. And traffic.... omg the traffic, its abysmal.

    Destination to be advised shortly :D
     
  17. WattleIdo

    WattleIdo midas touch

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    Sounds like fun. I'd take it too. You can either return after 12 months or see what happens. The best way to enjoy Sydney is to get into the midst of it - no car, no worries about the horrendous traffic which doubles every 5 years. I imagine most people in Sydney need a break from it but you don't.
    I doubt the salary increase will make much difference, probably cover the rent which is very high in the inner suburbs. But you won't be going backwards and it's a way to leave the others to deal with the stupid boss. Which may be good or bad.