Tony Kenefeck, 69, and wife Daria have moved to Melbourne to be nearer to their grandchildren they have now shared the cost differences between living in Australia and the UK
In recent years, a significant number of Brits have swapped the UK for Australia. By the end of 2024, the number of British expats had surged to 50,000 – a considerable increase from 31,000 in 2023, with the majority being younger individuals making the lengthy journey halfway across the globe.
However, it’s not just the younger generations who are relocating. Tony Kenefeck, 69, and his wife Daria have made the move to Melbourne to be closer to their grandchildren.
Thanks to a contributory aged parent visa, through two of their three children already relocating there for work, they’ve been able to make the move, although they don’t yet have permanent residency rights in Australia.
And Tony and Daria have expressed their astonishment at the cost differences in Australia.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Tony, 69, said: “You definitely get more bang for your buck here. We were expecting it to be much more expensive than the UK – but TV subscriptions are half the price, petrol is cheaper and so is electricity and gas.”
Indeed, data from globalpetrolprices.com shows that the average petrol price in Australia is currently 78p/litre – significantly less than the £1.33/litre average in the UK.
Furthermore, while the average electricity and gas bill in the UK is estimated at £154/month, Australian prices can be as low as £95, according to Meenz.
While numerous everyday expenses were cheaper than in the UK, Tony acknowledged that property prices were steeper, with Sydney’s average house costs exceeding those in London.
He was also stunned to discover the climate isn’t consistently pleasant as one might anticipate. He revealed that winters along the country’s southern coastline can be quite bitter, worsened by the absence of “insulation, double glazing or central heating”.
Despite this, however, the pair are thoroughly enjoying their fresh start. Tony continued: “It’s not an easy decision to move because immigration is so tight, but the experience of living here is fantastic. I haven’t found any real downsides yet.”
Even so, this hasn’t prevented thousands from taking the enormous leap to relocate to Australia.
Figures published late last year revealed approximately 50,000 individuals emigrated to Australia, rising from 31,000 the previous year, according to the Independent.
This surge could partly stem from relaxed working holiday visa requirements that now permit individuals aged up to 35 to discover and work in Australia for as long as three years.
Moreover, whilst these travellers gain valuable time to experience Australia and determine if they wish to remain in the warmer environment, local authorities have recognised advantages for the Australian economy as well.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, former deputy secretary at the Department of Immigration Abdul Rizvi said: “They’re an easy source of cheap labour in places where it’s hard to attract labour and then they go spend all that money, often in local economies,”.
“In the evening, they’re a bartender. In the morning, they might go for a snorkelling trip in the Barrier Reef. They’re a boon.”