Dubai vs. Australia

tazmania · January 2015

50-70% savings thats very unrealistic unless kung single ka at nag rerent ka lang and no other obligations. But if you have a family, own house, car and just even 1 kiddo na nag iischool lucky na to save 30%. Struggle ang life here if your household income is less than $150k. So you better think a million times if you want to move. Lagi kong ina advice sa mga friends and family ko if you are living comfortably sa life mo ngyon and dont have guts and to gamble dont bother then. But if you care sa future ng family mo and willing to make lot of sacrifces then do it. It will pay off in the long run and with determination, life here will eventually be easier. So its all about weighing your goals and dreams in life to make a wise decision. Good luck!

piglet24 · January 2015

@RoseG: Like you, wala pa din kaming baby, but hoping na magkaroon na in the near future. About the move, we have considered na lahat ng pinagipunan namin is magagamit talga and God forbid na mauubos din, but then, we can earn it back. maraming paraan para maearn back yung inipon namin. hindi namn forever na hindi ka makakpagipon. The thing about moving is its a big change. I always look at change as something good. It is downright scary but it always lead to something good. in my own opinion lang ha. unfair lang kasi dito like pag wala kang work uwi ka kung di ka kaya isponsor ng husband mo. tapos para maisponsor ka ng asawa mo need mo ng valid residential contract. minus pa yung fact na maraming mga manloloko sa real estate (ninakawan kami ng 50% downpayment namin sa rental namin and we didn't get the place pa). if natatakot ka gawin yung move, its better na wag niyo na lang ituloy kasi kung half bake ang decision niyo baka mawala yung drive niyo to survive in another country.

also another thought lang, ok namn icontinue buhay sa UAE. ang sarap ng buhay dito. I don't want to move actually, but, after ng ilang taon dito, saan ka na pupunta? once you retire you go back sa pinas. then what? depende lang talga sa priority yan.

TasBurrfoot · January 2015

@piglet24 -well said...

I remember me and my wife discussing on this back in 2012; we can opt to just stay in stay and continue to fatten the bank account but after that what else to do?!!

tazmania · January 2015

If i have lots of savings I would rather stay in Phils and put up a business. I can send my kids to the best school, be the boss and live comfortably. Living here is great nothing to complain but it just like slaving yourself to work to pay mortgage bills etc. Poor you if you are earning more than the threshold as gov't will cut your benefits. Everything is inocme tested and the only thing that you could do is work till you dropped! Reading this thread is like Saying "are you kidding me"! You're earning better than most of us here and average aussie and still you want to move and change you comfortable life. For me, that's crazy! I wish to be like you and I will be contented with all the blessings that I have now.

RoseG · January 2015

Hi @piglet24, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts again. I agree when you said that after the savings, what now? and for sure when we have our babies, expenses will get bigger. I also did some research on the monthly expense and as shared by @TasBurrfoot, 3k AUD is the monthly expense for a couple and for some who have 1 kid, that would be 13k Dhs, which is the same in UAE. In the end, same gastos lang din, my citizenship ka pa.

@tazmania, You can read my mind! Ang sarap mangarap na mayroon sariling kumpanya and I'm sure we will all get there if we are willing to. As I was reading your reply, I agreed to all what you said but when you mentioned "comfortable", it hit me. We may seem to earn big and save a lot but we don't really live a comfortable life here but rather a thrifty lifestyle. Comfort in UAE means renting your own apartment which costs you not lower than 3,500 AED monthly (1,200AUD), buying a car and trying out all the best in Dubai. My husband and I preferred to rent a room and take public transport everyday in order for us to save money monthly. I always try to get coupon deals so we can try out some fascinating stuff that Dubai offers. Dyan naman sa Oz, lahat kayo afford magrent ng sariling bahay at kotse. And I never heard someone having regrets migrating to Oz, unlike in Canada. Meron ba?

In regard to slavery, we feel the same way here. Filipinos can't speak out lalo na kpag Arabo nakabangga namin dito. At least dyan, kpag naging citizen ka, pantay pantay na ang lahat ng bagay, wala sa kulay ng balat o relihiyon ang hustisya. Dto papansinin ka lang kung puti ka o ka-relihiyon mo sila. I just remember like what I said before that we initially applied for Australian immigration to gain their citizenship and I believe that's what we all want --security -- Di kasi natin maramdaman to sa sarili nting bansa.

This thread really helped me a lot. It answered my questions and cleared all my doubts.

Thank you, thank you sa lahat ng contributors!

-- In order to grow, there should be constant change. --

tazmania · January 2015

Hi RoseG, like I've said before if you after for future of your family go and move then. But be warned! Moving to any first world countries doesn’t mean greener but everything can work out.

What I'm saying here truthfully is you are earning more than what average aussies does. AED20K or around $6700 pays in Dubai could do a lot than here. Like you’ve said, ung taxes ang savings nyo sa Dubai that would be around AED7K or $2300 which is pretty good savings. Tell yah, most Aussie I’ve known here in our company doesn’t have savings more than $10k in the bank. We are pretty much close mates and discussing everything. I’m not surprise at all because I do their pays and I know how much the cost of living here in Perth. Some of them says, their pays just going in the bank and out to pay their mortgage, etc.. And they are telling the truth here, as we are on the same boat. I’m telling you this because I want you to clear up your mind and think zillion of times.

Primary and Secondary education are not that good. I would rather send them back to Phils and do their schooling. They are very way behind here especially on academics. They are more on Arts and social stuff. Not surprisingly, most Pinoys families I’ve known na may kids na nag-aral sa Pinas eh lahat eh top of their class. Which really proves that basic education in Phils are pretty much way over the standard here.

You are free to PM me if you would like to know our roughly monthly expenses and I will tell yah honestly that you are better well off in Dubai than here. I’m not other typical Pinoys who does labis sa storya.

At the end of day, the choice is yours.

TasBurrfoot · January 2015

@tazmania - seems like you are implying something here mate...

you can probably share your monthly expense for the benefit of everyone.

ta!

tazmania · January 2015

Implying that I'm giving true reality here in straya? Like I've said you can send me a PM if you would like to know our rough monthly expenses.

TasBurrfoot · January 2015

Implying that I'm giving true reality here in straya? Like I've said you can send me a PM if you would like to know our rough monthly expenses.

you can share it with everyone mate...

not interested but other may want!

piglet24 · January 2015

@RoseG: You are welcome. Sharing thoughts lang din namn. Dubai/ Abu Dhabi kaya before plunging in, think one hundred times and pag sure na sure na talga go straight ahead di ba? I will miss Abu Dhabi for sure. It will be a big change, but as I said again, change is good. It is making way for something better.

vhoythoy · January 2015

Kaya magipon na kayo ng todo bago mag Australia. Don't moved to Australia because of money. Money is not everything. Marami dito pinas man or abroad, maayos ang work, buhay, at sweldo pero nagmimigrate pa rin. Kasi may kulang at hinahanap sa buhay. There is no perfect country/ place, only perfect dreams.

My reasons. Peace of mind, Equality as you fight for your right as compared to being OFW forever, Australian passport for me and my family, and have a good lifestyle in a great country.

I know It will be hard, especially for new migrants like us, but if you have the right determination, you can find a way to have a better life and find better opportunity in Australia. This may not be applicable to all, If hindi ka naging masaya or matagumpay sa Australia, then go back to place na magiging masaya ka. Life is too short to waste.

VIPinoy · February 2015

Hi @RoseG, i hate to bring this but it would be next to impossible for your husband to get a net income of AUD6,800/month with his first job here. I mean I know a lot of pinoy IT professionals, even managers at their companies, but they don't earn that much. Not even AUD5K net income. So think it over before making your final decision. IT jobs are highly competitive profession here, specially we have these Indian and european counterparts. We have been living in AU for 8 years, and we started with humble beginnings, but it was all worthed. Me and my wife current combined income is aroung AUD250K annually, we have our own house (under mortgage)...but we really worked hard for it. I mean, if you do decide to come to AU, don't be discouraged at first because it's really hard to start over. And honestly, don't expect too much at first....

wizardofOz · February 2015

I just would like to share my general thoughts on this further… living and working in a country where you are not a citizen, or resident even, is a gamble in itself…

Gamble in the sense na, although you have huge savings, your future is only as good as your next paycheck so to speak…

What if you got sick, what if for some reason you became incapable to work… You go home… and where is Home?

Babalik ka uli sa hirap ng buhay sa Pinas, and since hindi ka lumipat sa Australia, wala kang doors na na-open for other loved ones na pwede pa sanang makatulong sayo and maka-secure ng future mo in the long run… Yes, you can help relatives and loved ones move to Dubai, but their fate is only as good as yours..

Kadalasan kasi ang mga Immigrants, ang tingin sa pagiging “Immigrant” is parang pagiging OFW lang, basically kumita ng mas malaking pera… Pero nakakalimutan natin na ang isa at pinakaimportanteng side ng pagiging immigrant ay pagsisimula ng bagong buhay sa bansang pupuntahan natin. Nakakalimutan natin na mas importanteng mag assimilate, grow our roots, and establish foothold for our future descendants sa bansang lilipatan natin.

Also, with regards to “Opening a Business” sa Pinas, not to pop anyone’s balloon, pero isa pa ito sa pitfalls ng mga OFWs…

Hindi enough na may puhunan ka na pansimula sa isang business, the bigger question is, do you have the skills to open and run a business?

LittleFinger · February 2015

@wizardofOz you nailed it bro....

retake · February 2015

clarify ko lang about 50%-70% savings, nagagawa ko kasi ito even in Singapore, dahil I'm single so kung may anak na kayo and other payables, I think mahirap nga iyang ma-reach. Siguro, nasa tao na rin kung anong lifestyle ang gusto nila. Nonetheless, mga 20%-30% savings is good, ang mahalaga ay may savings in case magka-emergency or mawalan ng work.

Dito sa Sydney, it's possible to earn more than $6,800 net income per month, and even more, so I think it depends sa kung anong city sa Australia at kung anong industry sila nakakapasok. Usually, banks at financial firms ang malaki pag-pasahod. Depende rin ito kung Day Rate, Fixed Term or Permanent position. Usually, mas mataas bigayan sa Day Rate dahil hindi bayad ang mga leaves.

Though understandable naman na pag-first time palang rito eh mababa pa yung offer. Pero after 6 months to a year, I think okay na mag-demand ng mas malaki.

retake · February 2015

@VIPinoy kabayan, ask ko lang, saang state pala kayo? Sa Sydney kasi, mataas ang rate at kayang kaya na maabot 7k to even 10k per month, especially kung naka-Day Rate. Managers earn more than that of course, lalo na sa Banking/Finance industry.

VIPinoy · February 2015

Kabayan @retake, dito Lang kami Sydney. It's possible to have 7-10k net income per month since my wife's net income is at that level but it's unlikely to get this on your first job. Anyway, my wife is a CPA and working as a Finance Manager on an investment company in the city. When we first arrive here, she started as assistant accountant, then financial accountant, then senior accountant and then Finance manager. She had all these promotions because of hard work, further studies (CPA Austrlalia), and most specially lots of prayers. Me, I used to be an accountant (CPA philippines) but after working in accounts for 6 years and couple of months as Analyst, I went on semi-retirement.

@RoseG, wizardofoz's advise is very commendable. From personal experience, after all the risks and dramas, migrating to AU is all worthed.

VIPinoy · February 2015

Kabayan @retake, one more thing, my neighbour who is an IT consultant (also pinoy) working for one of the big 4 banks, doesn't get that 7-10k net income per month. Just saying...

kremitz · February 2015

Umm bka po yung contractual pwede cgro yung 7k na net. Meron ako nakikita sa mga job ads nasa 400-600 per day yung rate eh. Pero tama n most likely hindi m yan makukuha sa first job mo. Meron kc recruiter nagcontact ky hubby, mga ganung range pero contractual eh. Nakakatempt pero he opted to stay with his company since permanent position yung work nya ngayon

retake · February 2015

@VIPinoy - thanks for sharing! Nandito rin ako sa Sydney so I think depende lang siguro sa demand ng skill since may different areas sa IT at kung Day Rate, Fixed Term or Permanent. May nakikita kasi akong ads for software developers sa www.seek.com.au na mataas ang rate.

Personally, na-abot ko yung range ng rate na iyan on my first job dahil naka-Day rate kasi ako kaya ko nasabi na possible. Pero again, depende talaga sa skills kung in-demand like android, objective-C , Java, .NET and others. I believe na your friend is already permanent sa company nya. Pag-Day Rate/Contract kasi, hindi bayad ang mga vacation/sick leaves kaya mataas ang salary.

@RoseG

Marami factors na pwedeng i-consider when moving here. Iba iba rin kasi ang storya ng bawat tao saka swertihan rin sa pag-punta rito. So suggest ko, expect nyo nalang na it is possible that you'll be getting less pay of you move here. Of course, may possibility rin na mas tumaas ang income kung naka-jackpot sa magandang employer.

Pero at the end of the day, nasa sa atin parin kung paano natin mama-manage ang ating salary kasi kahit mataas ang income pero mataas rin expenses eh bababa rin ang ipon natin at the end of the day. All the best ah!

@kremitz - agree!

vhoythoy · February 2015

Umm bka po yung contractual pwede cgro yung 7k na net. Meron ako nakikita sa mga job ads nasa 400-600 per day yung rate eh. Pero tama n most likely hindi m yan makukuha sa first job mo. Meron kc recruiter nagcontact ky hubby, mga ganung range pero contractual eh. Nakakatempt pero he opted to stay with his company since permanent position yung work nya ngayon

Mas maayos naman kasi ang permanent position talaga, lalo na kung marami kang hinuhulugan (i.e. bahay, kotse, etc.) eh kailangan mo talga ng stable source of income. Other than paid leaves (sick/ vacation), maraming perks ang isang permanent position depende sa isang company not necessarily in terms of financial .

Envy · May 2015

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here was able to reside for a long time in Dubai before migrating to Oz? Half-hearted na kasi tumuloy sa Australia kasi di daw namin kikitain Yung pera na kinikita n nmin dto sa Dubai because of the tax. Aside from that, cost of living in any state in Oz is more expensive compared to Dubai. One good thing in Dubai are all-year round sales which I don't think Oz can offer. There's no citizenship in Dubai but you take home your salary to yourself.

How can you compare Dubai to Australia?

If your thinking of permanently settling in another country - Australia is heaps better than Dubai.

Weather, Food, Culture, People plus you get a chance to be part of the community (migrants can apply for citizenship) - you get to vote, you can run for public office, you can practice your religious beliefs (seeing a x-mas tree in Deira City Centre is not religious freedom)
Plus you can live in a proper house.

If your thinking of settling back to Phils sooner, then Dubai is a good choice. Compromise on some things in exchange of more earnings then go back home.

chocolatepink · May 2015

WizardofOz said it all. So true and enlightening. I can always refer to his comment on this thread to remind me of why Straya is our prospective home.

Thank you!

piglet24 · May 2015

@envy: so true about the housing here in UAE. mahirap unless you are earning like the Brits and the Americans. You can afford a one bedroom flat pero sobrang layo na sa city.

Envy · May 2015

@piglet24

I was sharing a room with a friend in a 4 bedroom flat at an old building behind Deira City Centre. I think I was earning good money but still couldn't afford to get my own place or live in a house.

piglet24 · May 2015

@envy: yun talga ang isang downside dito sa UAE ang housing. ang hirap kumuha ng sarili mong unit. unless malaki talga sahod mo. we are renting a studio unit right now but still hindi sulit kasi within a villa pa rin. anyway, tiis tiis na lang ng konti, hopefully we will be living in a proper house soon.

Envy · May 2015

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here was able to reside for a long time in Dubai before migrating to Oz? Half-hearted na kasi tumuloy sa Australia kasi di daw namin kikitain Yung pera na kinikita n nmin dto sa Dubai because of the tax. Aside from that, cost of living in any state in Oz is more expensive compared to Dubai. One good thing in Dubai are all-year round sales which I don't think Oz can offer. There's no citizenship in Dubai but you take home your salary to yourself.

How can you compare Dubai to Australia?

all year round sales? does it matter? i respectfully disagree.

TasBurrfoot · May 2015

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here was able to reside for a long time in Dubai before migrating to Oz? Half-hearted na kasi tumuloy sa Australia kasi di daw namin kikitain Yung pera na kinikita n nmin dto sa Dubai because of the tax. Aside from that, cost of living in any state in Oz is more expensive compared to Dubai. One good thing in Dubai are all-year round sales which I don't think Oz can offer. There's no citizenship in Dubai but you take home your salary to yourself.

How can you compare Dubai to Australia?

all year round sales? does it matter? i respectfully disagree.

materialistic perception...

Envy · May 2015

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here was able to reside for a long time in Dubai before migrating to Oz? Half-hearted na kasi tumuloy sa Australia kasi di daw namin kikitain Yung pera na kinikita n nmin dto sa Dubai because of the tax. Aside from that, cost of living in any state in Oz is more expensive compared to Dubai. One good thing in Dubai are all-year round sales which I don't think Oz can offer. There's no citizenship in Dubai but you take home your salary to yourself.

How can you compare Dubai to Australia?

all year round sales? does it matter? i respectfully disagree.
materialistic perception...

Kahit araw araw may sales dito sa Australia, wala rin naman akong pambili

Pero inaabangan ko nman yung mid year stocktake sale, boxing day sale, end of season sale.

tapos meron din lay by dito, so Dubai sales? nah.. im good here

TasBurrfoot · May 2015

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone here was able to reside for a long time in Dubai before migrating to Oz? Half-hearted na kasi tumuloy sa Australia kasi di daw namin kikitain Yung pera na kinikita n nmin dto sa Dubai because of the tax. Aside from that, cost of living in any state in Oz is more expensive compared to Dubai. One good thing in Dubai are all-year round sales which I don't think Oz can offer. There's no citizenship in Dubai but you take home your salary to yourself.

How can you compare Dubai to Australia?

all year round sales? does it matter? i respectfully disagree.
materialistic perception...
Kahit araw araw may sales dito sa Australia, wala rin naman akong pambili

Pero inaabangan ko nman yung mid year stocktake sale, boxing day sale, end of season sale.

tapos meron din lay by dito, so Dubai sales? nah.. im good here

One thing I have learn living here in Australia is to not be too materialistic... People are chill here unlike Singaporeans and Filipinos.

As long as what you have is decent - di sila masyado very particular sa tatak.