Australia's cost of living is very reasonable compared with many other countries across the world. While the value of the national currency, the Australian dollar, fluctuates, you can expect to pay about 41 British pence, 69 US cents or 60 Euro cents for an Australian dollar.

Nurses in Australia are highly valued members of the community and, as such, are remunerated very well. For example, a Registered General Nurse with eights years of post-graduate experience would earn between $32 and $51 per hour.

The following is an example of an average weekly earning of a Registered Nurse who works full-time (5 shifts x 7.6 hours per shift) with NAA. It includes two afternoon shifts and one shift on a Saturday, and actual earnings would vary depending on shifts undertaken.

Gross income $1219 per week
Less tax $456
Net income $763 per week

The following list highlights the approximate cost of consumables and general living in Australia. Costs will vary from city to city.

Motor vehicle
Expect to pay between $75 and $150 per day to hire a car in Australia.
A good quality used car ranges from $5000 to $8000.
The average cost of petrol is $1.25 per litre.

Australia's capital cities have excellent and reasonably priced public transport systems, particularly in the bigger cities of Sydney and Melbourne.

Accommodation
Rental accommodation is generally easy to find, with costs varying between places. At the more expensive end of the scale, you could rent a one-bedroom unit in metropolitan Sydney for between $180 and $240 per week. In less expensive areas, such as Adelaide, a two-bedroom unit would cost between $130 and $160 per week.

Food
The variety, quality and cost of food in Australia is excellent. A single person could expect to spend an average of $100 per week on food. For example, milk is approximately $1.30 per litre, a loaf of bread is $2.20 and a dozen eggs costs about $2.20.

Entertainment
Australia enjoys a variety of different social activities, from sporting events, to concerts, theatre and eating out. Restaurants and cafes are reasonably priced, and the cost of eating out varies from area to area. In Sydney, you'd expect to pay in the vicinity of $70 per person for a three-course meal including drinks. The same meal in Adelaide would cost approximately $50 per person. Entry to a top grade sporting event would cost between $25 and $50, and an adult movie ticket costs $13.50.