I get that housing and cost of living is high in Dublin. But Australia is even more expensive. There are so many issues here in Ireland but its the same everywhere.
And you can’t compare Dublin to some backwater suburb in oz. Dublin is way cheaper and happier (in my opionion) compared to Sydney or Melbourne. I can understand if people move to London or New York, But what’s the play with Australia? Its so far and disconneted from the rest of the world that it might as well be on Mars.
Edit:
The reasons why Irish migrate to Oz are: 1. The Sun! Valid point. 2. Far away from family. Valid point. 3. Better private healthcare. Valid point. 4. Better pay in mining and healthcare. Valid point. 5. To be among other Irish. Irony. 6. To have fun (riding a German in a hostel is fun!) 7. Oz is cheaper. Delusion. 8. Nothing to do in Ireland. Delusion. 9. No future in Ireland. Delusion.
Just so we are clear, I’m not saying dont move and explore, i just dont understand why its usually Australia.
They speak English there.
This is it. You really only have 4 choices in places to go if you don't want to learn a new language. UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Don't forget Singapore! High quality of life, and English is spoken as a first language. It has its problems, but worth considering if someone is looking for an English-speaking country that's not just a reskin of Ireland.
Singapore will cane you for small crimes and execute you for drug offenses, both particularly relevant for the working holiday visa and overstay crowd.
Gee that's gonna put a crimp on your holiday if you can't commit small crimes.
Indeed, I wouldn't mess with the law there. I met some Singaporeans who dabbled in recreational drugs, they were paranoid that the police would come bursting through their front door. Not sure how they thought it was in any way worth the risk. More sensible Singaporeans go to Thailand or Indonesia for their psychedelic experiences.
Other negative aspects of Singapore include the exploitation of immigrant construction workers & maids, and the government's authoritarianism. There's only one park in the city where protests are permitted to be held, and even that's subject to government approval.
On the other hand, there are positives. It's very safe (probably because the law is so strict), and it's common to see school kids taking public transport on their own. The public transport is amazing, like a lot of Asian cities. There's an interesting melting pot of cultures & languages - Chinese, Malay and Indian. Most of the signs are in 4 languages. The food is amazing and cheap. There are lovely parks. Easy to travel to other SE Asian countries. Etc.
Personally, I'd rather experience somewhere truly different like Singapore, rather than move to another white western country. Depends on what you're looking for, though.
Well don't commit crimes then 🙄
Ha, could you imagine!
i agree but i think the type to move to australia are also a large overlap with people who think chopsticks are weird and tofu is manky
The Netherlands as well
Well you could probably get by with just English in a lot of Northern and Western Europe, but I still think if you were going to live there long-term you'd probably want to learn some of the language.
Nah, I’m a pathetic monoglot from west Dublin who’s lived in Thailand, Central Asia, and the Middle East and I’ve never really struggled to communicate. I picked up enough Thai to communicate with taxi drivers, and then taxi apps came along and even that became unnecessary. I’m not saying I’m glad about any of this, but the days of being limited to Anglophone nations are long gone. Almost everyone speaks English.
I know you can get by but I still think if I was planning on putting down roots somewhere, I'd want to know the local language.
You're 100% correct. I am in the Netherlands, do not speak the language, and it really is never a problem... Until it is. I was hospitalized and at a complete loss. Had no idea what was happening, and in the fast moving hospital world, they really don't give a fuck if you understand unless your lack of understanding would change the outcome.
USA, trickier visa situation but still doable. Have all the Gulf states, Scandinavia and Hong Kong / Singapore as well.
Anyone planning on the usa needs head examined
Bro let me tell you about NYC
Let me tell you about NYPD.
Rampaging lawless angry cunts, before it was cool.
Yeah I want to leave people really are terrible but on the other hand I think there may be more socialable people elsewhere
There's also Switzerland, my order has been taken by multiple waiters/baristas in Zürich who don't speak a word of German
There’s loads of GAA clubs too for those of us who play.
Kinda
Chuckles in NZ
As someone who’s moved home after two years there, there’s so many reasons. I worked as a nurse and my pay was 10€ an hour more than what I go in Ireland. Shifts were 8 hours instead of 13 so I had way more time to do things after work and was never as tired. Staff shortages weren’t a thing, if someone rang sick they were replaced unlike in Ireland.
I rented an apartment with friends for 600€ a month, this apartment had a pool, gym & a media room & was located near the city. I’d never get somewhere as good in Ireland. It was also my first time living out of home, I’d never have had that chance if I stayed in Ireland as it’s too expensive.
On top of that, the weather is amazing, even if winter is cold you can holiday somewhere warm in the country. Everyone is open to doing things / making friends as we’re all here without our families. I made so many friends there in just two years & it’s a chance to see parts of the world that most who live in Ireland don’t go too. I’ve seen most of Aus / NZ & some place in Asia that are one direct flight from Aus, but would be 2/3 from Ireland.
The English language is a big factor as most Irish people don’t have a 2nd language & no one wants to go to the UK as it’s so like home & the US is so unsafe now, so Aus, NZ & Canada are the main emigration options
Quality of life based on weather and things to do.
If I'm paying 2k a month to rent a place, it may as well be in the city centre and a quick bus to a sunny 30 degree beach, with lots of outdoor activities (swimming, surfing, etc) and social activities.
Instead, we pay 2k or 3k to rent a place an hour bus from the city centre, where its always dark, cloudy and miserable, and there's not much to do outside of pub culture.
100%. Youre getting robbed for housing all over the world but few places have less value for money than Ireland. Everywhere is expensive, you may as well pay expensive rent somewhere nice/interesting. For the price of a mouldy bedsit in Cork you could live in an (admittedly small) apartment in manhattan.
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You absolutely can, source: I'm from Cork but have been apartment hunting in manhattan for a year.
Manhattan is way more expensive - can you show me an apartment listed there the same price as a mouldy bedsit in Cork?
The Irish situation is bad but people pay much more in Manhattan but earn more.
Cork 2 bed 2300 ber exempt im sure the lick of paint on the mold is still drying in these pics:
https://www.daft.ie/for-rent/house-50-prosperity-square-barrack-street-cork-cork-city-centre/6463164
2 bed on Manhattan Island for 2200 dollars a month. Very tight but also pet friendly:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/507-W-170th-St-APT-34-New-York-NY-10032/2127592786_zpid/?utm_source=nativeshare_activation_v1
I'm sure you'll have some comment about distance but you can just hop on the train in NY and be downtown proper
You'd also probably be making way more money in New York
And much wider range of opportunities!
Not to mention paying less tax.
That’s not true at all
Jesus that New York one is bleak but I'd still pick it over Cork 😂
If I was living in one of the greatest cities in the planet, I'd be happy to pay mad money.
Cork isn't even one of the greatest cities in this timezone.
What a line 🤣
Once Sir Henry’s closed down all was lost.
I disagree I think Ireland is really great people feel like it any much because they live there so long there is nothing to compare to but I think there is alot to love. I have never visted but I think I can tell there may be a difference from other places.
Ireland and it's cities are great but they are a specific type of great. Most of the people complaining on this sub are addressing issues that good be solved or make Ireland so much better. That said most Western counties are having similar issues.
You just can't seriously compare living in New York to living in a mouldy apartment in Cork.
It is but New York!! It was the same story with Vancouver as well. Sure it's not the best accommodation but but you just can't compare the locations
This is in a rough neighborhood. Could be fine if you don't have kids though.
In not surprised tbh. The comparison still stands anyway.
Ireland is a rip off and people like to pretend everywhere is an order of magnitude more expensive when the reality is much different. Often more expensive but also can have much greater opportunities
Washington Heights just around the corner! When my male relative (from Bronx) joined NYPD, his Donegal born mum said '...ok but first posting is Washington Heights..' 😄
I think people read too much into the reasons people move to Australia.
They speak English and lots of your mates are already there. That’s the reason. There’s a network effect to it. Same as how in the 60s/70s/80s so many Irish to America or England.
Nobody’s sitting down with a Melbourne bus timetable and a chart of EUR/AUS CPI inflation and deciding to bog off to the other side of the world. For every issue you’re solving in Ireland there’s a new issue in Australia to offset it.
People are going because it seems “exotic” and it’s a change of pace to the life they have at home. There’s a long Irish tradition of doing that sort of thing regardless of the economy. A few love it and stay for good, a few end up back here after a year or two.
Come on you will never get a 30 degree beach anywhere in Ireland...
Why would you make it about "some backyard suburb of Oz" and not the world-class cities of Melbourne and Sydney? Do you think living in Lucan is exotic?
I'm living in Darwin, so you know, not the metropolitan setting of Melbourne or Sydney but I actually prefer it and chose to stay here rather than head south when my regional work was completed. And I much rather spend 1/3 of my weekly income on rent bills and groceries, saving about 40% of my wages every week and still having enough money in my pocket to live my life every week. Add to that less than 1/4 of my wages gets spent to share a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom house with one other person, compared to Kildare where I was spending about 1/3 of my wages on rent alone to live in a 5 bedroom, 1 bathroom house with 4 lads who never cleaned up after themselves.
Like yeah, Australia's not cheap, but my wages are much better for the exact same work and hours. I can go out for a nice lunch on my day off, get a meal, a coffee and a smoothie for about the equivalent of 80 minutes wages. If someone can show me where in Ireland I can get an eggs benedict, a flat white and a peanut butter smoothie for about €19 and then I'll agree that Australia is as expensive as or more expensive than Ireland.
As a person who lived in Australia I will tell you one thing it may be slightly more expensive than here Ireland has become more expensive when it comes to housing than when I was in Perth. And even if it’s expensive have you ever lived in sunny country ? That was amazing everyday after work I went sunbathing and swimming in warm ocean that alone was much better than wake up nearly everyday to miserable gray skies
Imagine how bad the Guinness is too.
Its hard when u are used to good weather, As spanish i can tell u is the reason why most of spanish come back to Spain, the money is less but the houses are much cheaper, and having +250 Sunny days and going to the beach after work is amazing. My brother came back for that reason and many IRISH are living in Spain for the weather and food. AUSTRALIA OFFERS THE SAME WITH NO LANGUAGE BARRIER FOR ENGLISH SPEAKERS, AND VERY GOOD WAGES.
This is the difference, you are still gonna be broke, but you will be broke in a bikini on the beach. Sometimes its the stuff that are free that are the big differences
I went to Perth last Xmas and I thought nearly everything was cheaper than Belfast. Eating out, groceries, fuel, childcare, pints. Property was more expensive in Perth but I'd say Dublin would be more expensive. Salaries are obviously much higher.
Yup exactly this I can’t wait to go back there again in 2 years time in skilled visa this time I came up with the decision after coming back that Ireland just does not cut it anymore
lol I hate the sun. That's why I moved back here - to be fair the Australian sun will kill ya as soon as look at ya. It was too hot most of the time as well. I find it easier to get warm and most of our days are pleasant enough temp wise.
I loved it then took me few weeks to get used to it for sure. My first week I got absolutely lobster burned that was my lesson haha. Worst part was living in a room with no ac and no wind coming in through the window shit absolutely sucked
Yeah I was in a tin backpacker house in perth with 40C+ temps going on. Going outside was a exhausting in that heat but staying in was worse. Loved Oz and got to travel to all the territories but that heats/sun aint for me.
The weather alone makes it worth it tbh. Plus the wages are generally higher even if cost of living is mad expensive. And yeah it's far but that's kinda the point for some people - fresh start without having to deal with all the family drama every weekend lol
Ok family drama is a valid point
It's weird that people are downvoting you.
Avoiding family drama is a major reason for emigration.
It’s hot and they speak English and people’s friends from secondary school go there so they follow.
That’s all there is to it
Think there’s a bit more to it than that but carry on
My young fella needed elective surgery. He waited 6 weeks to get it done in Melbourne. We came back to Ireland a few years ago and he needed a redo of the same surgery, it took 20 months to get it done. So there’s that.
Oz costs exactly the same - you just make way, way more money for the exact same job, pay less tax, and have far better infrastructure and healthcare.
There are more tramways in Melbourne than there are railways in the Republic of Ireland.
There are so many people in this sub that love banging on about how other places are more expensive.
Sure that's true but they are deluding themselves comparing Dublin to New York, Sydney or Vancouver. You're paying to live in a huge city with either weather, culture, outdoors or some other factor.
People move to Australia for the lifestyle and sometimes just for the two year adventure before they settle themselves back to the cold, moldy and expensive living so many suffer with in Dublin.
...Better standard of living, English speaking, Western culture, good weather, established tradition of Irish immigration....
Have you actually been I’m curious? Dublin happier? I think this is a little outrageous 😂 but your opinion is your own of course! So I lived there for over 3 years. Sydney and in mid Queensland. I’ll give you a breakdown of my weekly spending with my partner and you decide. (Prices will be the full amount we paid as a couple) Rent - Sydney (Coogee beech): €340 per week. Rent - Mid QLD €140 per week.
Groceries - €85 per week Gym memberships - €14 per week (€56 a month) memberships usually prices weekly in Aus. Public transport (capped at €28 a week for buses/trains/boat so you can travel all around the city with each form of transport at your doorstep every 5 mins).
Weather - weather - weather - weather And more weather. In the summer you are guaranteed that every single plan you make isn’t messed up by the weather. It’s also located in a fantastic part of the world to travel to many different locations Bali, Singapore, Japan, china, South Korea, North Korea, South America pretty much similar distance.
Range of locations to live it with fantastic quality of life.
Eating out: Coffee and pastry culture is huge there and is cheaper for sure! I actually put Australia cheaper for eating out than Ireland at regular restaurants/cafe.
But, Ireland is not as bad as people who live in Australia will let on it to be. I came home this summer and the weather was unbelievable! I do think having weather is a massive advantage overall
There might be issues everywhere but they’re different issues. I lived in Japan for example and the healthcare was 10x faster than Ireland, the public transport was excellent, there was more to do. It had its problems of course but I think when people emigrate it’s to chase a better quality of life and it’s choosing what problems you can deal with. A lot of doctors and nurses are in Australia because working in the HSE can be an absolute nightmare and they’ll have better pay/jobs over there.
This right here. For example, I'm in a bunch of Irish subreddits considering a move TO Ireland to escape problems that I can't deal with here, choosing problems I CAN deal with in Ireland.
Moving to Australia seems to hit on the weather problem perfectly.
Vast majority of doctors and other healthcare workers come back to Ireland. It's a great place for graduates to get good experience though, my mrs is a doctor and she and so many of her friends spent a few years out there but they're all back now.
That's has a lot more to do with career progression then it does anything else for Drs anwyay. Very hard to get on a decent scheme outside of Ireland.
I'd say it's more to do with wanting to live in their home country with their families etc. Plus consultants get paid obscene amounts in Ireland.
Sure that's a big factor but an Irish doctor is unlikely to ever be able to be a consultant in Australia if they can't get on a scheme.
Australia isn’t automatically better. Doctors and nurses are leaving in large numbers there too, and the fact that they have to poach staff from Ireland and the UK should make people think twice before calling it paradise.
Why is there so much cope in this sub from people who don’t “get” going to Australia?
If it’s not for you, it’s not for you.
I lived there for 10 years, got the job that started my career, made a lot of good friends that I am going back to visit this year, and didn’t fall into the “Irish only” trap.
Ireland is more expensive than Australia, Sydney is the exception
to be honest i blame home and away
Why? Because it's Ireland but with better weather and food. Where Ireland is chaotic, disorganised and haphazard, Australia is logical, organised and process driven. The lines on the road are maintained. Potholes are fixed. Footpaths are maintained. People don't park where there are "no parking" signs. There are clubs everywhere for so many activities and hobbies, because weather! You don't need a solicitor or policeman in the family to get things processed through government offices. You just go to the office or authority and follow the process. If an unfair decision is made you go to the ombudsman. If you're not sure what to do in work, you go to the policies and procedures manual and look it up. And if it's not there, they will update the manual to fill that gap.
Source: me, living in Australia for 20 years and going insane everytime I come home to the chaos 🙈
This.
I'm from Aus and have been living in Ireland for 6 years. I'm actually moving back because of the quality of life. I see, hear and feel where my tax money goes in Aus compared to Ireland.
I love Ireland but at the moment, I just want to go home and see the sun and experience a great quality of life.
Don't get me wrong, I love my home country but yes, where does the tax money go in Ireland? The pace of road improvements in the 20+ years I've been gone is dismal. Yes, ok, it's easier to get to Dublin once you access a motorway. But when my family come from Dublin they take a 30 minute longer route so they only have ~10km of REALLY shite roads rather than 35km of mediocre/shite roads on the most direct route. The road improvements outside the motorway are all just improvements of the surface and edges. Minimal widening or removal of blind corners & dips, even in known accident black spots.
And don't get me started on Irish drivers. Yes I know there was a massive backlog of people waiting for tests for years, because not enough testing staff. I know ye all had to hide yer L plates for years so ye could just get to work. But 25% of the country drives at 120km on any road, 25% drives at 50km wherever they are. Speed limits don't matter, road signs are suggestions only. I will admit that overtaking has improved, I didnt scream at all on my last visit home!
I've lived here all my life and I have to agree with you. You'd need to be an acrobat there's so many hoops to jump through and when you do finally get your situation organised there's probably some mistake and you'll probably have to go through the whole process again and the attitude seems to be that's your problem. People just don't seem to care.
Chaos, ha ha ha ha ha
Better quality of life really - can nearly always do stuff outside, there’s a strong supportive Irish community there, no need to learn another language. Culturally Irish and Aussies get on well too. Wages would be higher there as well as cost of living so it balances out. The distance is the downside but can see the draw from the upsides
The rent is slightly cheaper (apart from Sydney), the wages are nearly the same and higher in some areas, for nurses and teachers the government acts like they give a shit about them and the weather is nicer. It’s easier to not be homesick when there’s so many other Irish people there, you don’t miss the craic as much.
It’s warm. It’s also culturally similar to both Ireland and the U.K. It’s big. Australians like their sports and outdoor activities, which appeals to a lot of younger Irish people. There’s also good quality food and booze.
I didn’t live in Australia, but I lived in Texas. It’s incredible to get away. Things actually happen in places in the sun - pop ups, going out in the evening to do something that isn’t drinking or walking the dog, fitness is prioritised. You’re also much much happier with all the vitamin D. You also make so many memories and explore a completely new culture and make so many new friends. I’d make maybe 1 or 2 new friends a year here in Dublin and hang round my circle mostly, when I was abroad I made dozens of new friends that I became very, very close with.
If you don’t get it, it’s because you haven’t tried it!
I lived in Texas for a couple of years. Way too hot in the summer now though. What’s the fitness is prioritized things? Average weight and health would be worse than Ireland. Lots of super fit people in Ireland, plenty of nice mountains to climb, interesting places to visit. Texas I could drive for 2 hours and still be in flat boring landscape.
Yeah the heat in the summer is crazy, but I AC everywhere makes it manageable. Wasn’t too bad last year. As for fitness, depends where you are in Texas but Austin is incredibly fit, quick google says that 78% of people engage in physical excersize regularly - and it shows. It’s part of the lifestyle there, gyms were free with they’d be placed in your workplace or apartment, there’s many places to go out and get healthy meals and overall the mentality of the young people is to go to the gym or do a Pilates class. Not saying it’s entirely alien here, but you’d see it more rarely with young people. Probably because gyms here are expensive and packed.
Also as for scenery - Ireland and Texas are a different kettle of fish but Texas definitely does have its own lovely hikes and places to visit.
Yeah Austin is an outlier in the state. I played soccer 2 summers in North Texas, near killed me!
DFW? And did you play uni or for a pro team? Sounds like alot of fun!
Can I suggest that people don't rule out mainland Europe? I have been spending a lot of time recently in Spain, and it's great. It's only a two-hour flight away. Flights are cheap with Ryanair. A beer is €3, you can get a meal in a great restaurant for 20 euros. Weather is great etc
Yes, the language is an issue, as is getting work, but if you are lucky enough to be a remote worker or an entrepreneur, there are lots of digital nomads in cities like Valencia, Porto, etc.
I go back and forth now.
There is more social mobility in Australia, wages are significantly higher and there cost of living is lower when you do the conversions I don’t know why this is so disputed
Have you ever lived in Australia?
If you havent lived here how have you formed an opinion of living here? Ill just list a few things:
Infrastructure is better, medical system is better, the weather is better, wages are far far better (depending on job), future career prospects are far better, sick pay in the private sector, ability to get a mortgage is far better, healthier lifestyle, goverment competency....
Ireland is fantastic, dont get me wrong, but to get ahead in life this is the place to be in my opinion!
I have. Im from south east asia. You have similar problems everywhere, Ireland is way better and not cut off from the world
Are you able to get a mortgage without a permanent residence in AUZ?
Living here 3 years lived in 3 cities I can find a place to rent anywhere. In my home town there’s nothing, took my brother a year and a half to find a place
Which major cities are you comparing your homwtown to?
It is not the same everywhere
-someone who has moved
Ah sure why not? You know yourself.
Nearly all are going on working holiday visas and are back within years. Did it myself years ago was great craic. And I had decent paying jobs but still lived in some tiny places and one particular bed bug ridden place in Melbourne.
I was the same in Sydney, great money, lots of riding, great weather, then home after two years as it turns out they had no need for whore Irish guy on the critical needs list
Could you be more pacific?
Healthcare workers , most head to Australia get more money treated as professional. Our nurses are leaving in droves , 60% or more of our hospitals are Indian nurses and without them our HSE would fall asunder . But when there was an embargo nationally on employing nurses in HSE. I don’t think the public know there was no embargo on Indian/Philippine nurses being brought into country. Teachers , agri workers go spend 5years in Oz, work and come home build a house no mortgage 10 years ago. Don’t know how what they do.
I don’t know where you’re getting your information from or if it’s outdated but I just checked several AI engines and a few reputable sources. Australia is significantly more affordable than Ireland in almost all metrics except for purchasing a home (and perhaps groceries). Wages are higher and go further than here.
Add that to the weather and I can see why people are leaving Ireland. We also have appalling infrastructure here (especially Dublin) not to mention congestion that ranks amongst the highest in the world.
In general they have a more accessible healthcare system as well.
Ireland will never improve or reach it’s potential with this reflexive “shur isn’t it sh*t everywhere” attitude (based on fact or not).
Gets me. Seems like a very interesting place. Too hot and full of Irish anyway. If you want to hang out with loads of Irish people just stay here... That's my grumpy take anyway.
It's an absolutely incredible place to live
I hated it over there , one huge boring hot suburb
Which city? Melbourne is meant to be way nicer than Sydney.
Sydney Brisbane the Gold Coast
It’s suburban living, I love living in European cities but I’d honestly prefer to live in an Irish village than an Aussie suburb and I’m not a countryside person
Fair, I’ve only heard bad about Sydney to be honest, same as what you’re saying + it being more expensive. It’s more like an American style city. It sprawls so far out to the west.
I’ve only heard good from Melbourne especially from people who’ve moved from one to the other and I’m part of the age demographic where there’s a lot of people I’d be friendly with out there.
I lived in Sydney for 2 years and came home 6 months ago. It was definitely not more expensive in Australia. Some things were more expensive but a lot of things were cheaper. Your money went a lot further there. I paid 2k euro a month for a 2 bed in the most amazing suburb by the sea. The place was truly beautiful. 2k a month in rent would not go far here.
I'm just back from a family holiday to Australia, I have a lot of family out there and met quite a few Irish immigrants.
They all say the same, better quality of living, better weather, better work life balance and, from my observations it's all true. Yes Australia is expensive and taxes are high but the money is spent in the right way. There is deprivation but that's the same the world over.
I was in Australia 2 years ago and some of wife's family who have been out in sydney 20 years were saying it very expensive now. but the lifestyle is much better. one has moved back now. a friends son is out there and he's trying to get a mining job but working on a road crew out of Perth 12 hour shifts in 30 degree heat. but the pays better than at home.
On the contrary, alot of people move there, decide its not all its made out to be and come back home
They don't. It's just your certain age demographic. Other than that no one is
Its not the same everywhere though? Literally even as close as the UK housing is more affordable.
America is now a joke, that's why.
If you're gonna leave for something familiar, you're not leaving for the UK.
Australia is familiar, the weather is significantly better. The major cities are very expensive, but the rural and regional cities are very affordable and very livable. That is where you're much more likely to find ex-pats. I should know, I married one.
As a mate mine said what he kearned why OZ is better than Ireland is this "Lad its down to 3 W's, weather, work, women"
Basic people like Australia. You'll find Irish people all over the world, speaking different languages and embracing different cultures. Australia is for the ones who dont want to challenge themselves to much
Can depend for lots of people, for myself who has a trade its a no brainer. I'm on over double the hourly rate I could get at home. With a lot more time off aswell. Plus factor in the weatehr, electricity is cheaper, diesel and petrol is abut 1.66 - 1.85 Aud a litre which is so much cheaper than home. There's a housing crisis but its actually possible to get a place and the houses are much nicer/newer. Im based in Perth so I know people's experience varies hugely depending on occupation and which city or region you're in. Safe to say the only thing I miss about Ireland is my parents, my siblings are over here aswell. Dont even miss friends because they're all here.
Comparing Australia and Ireland for housing and saying “Ireland is cheaper” is delusional unless you are fine with living in a rotting 50 sqm shed paying €1800/mo
Lived in Victoria for nearly two years.
House prices, cigarettes (I don’t smoke), beer (imported beer) are the only thing I’ve found that were more expensive in Aus, not exaggerating when I say everything else was cheaper. Throw in a better healthcare system, quality of apartments for rent (& cheaper maybe outside of Sydney), better public transport oh and the weather it’s not hard to see why people move over there.
Jaysus I'd be much more inclined to go to Oz over London or New York. Spent over a year doing multiple weeks at a time in London about 10 years ago for work and sport and just couldn't understand why it was considered this ideal location for Irish looking to get a better quality of life.
Because there was always work for unskilled Irish people on building sites and in bars etc. when there was literally no work for anyone in Ireland. Now many Irish professionals go there to gain experience. I worked in IT there for 5 years. It's an amazing city I still miss it but I'm glad I'm back in Dublin now, it's a sleep village comparatively.
Yeah it's very nice around central London and some of the leafy suburbs but I found it to just be a massive Dublin in a sense although I suppose the familiarity is part of the appeal to a lot of people. My view was probably skewed by having to stay in some fairly rough areas on a couple of occasions to be fair.
I lived in brixton and camberwell and then eventually london fields which is hella trendy and posh these days. so got to experience a few aspects of it.
Being over weeks at a time is very different to living in a London suburb. London is an amazing city to live in if you can afford it
That is very true albeit I was doing say 6-8 weeks in London, back to Dublin for maybe 5 days then back over for another 6-8 weeks. Brilliant city but yeah it is very expensive and I think I just found it too much like home for me in terms of day to day but obviously a lot more to do at weekends. The traffic is something I think most Irish wouldn't believe until they see it, thankfully I didn't have to drive often.
For anyone interested in culture and an elite career, London is without peer. Strong argument that it’s the greatest city in the world. And it’s a half hour away basically. I think it says a lot that the most ambitious people in Australia often end up in London.
I wouldn’t live there myself, but I totally get the appeal.
New York is absolutely a peer.
…but that’s the full list.
Fair.
I was too hung up on the history aspect, but culturally more broadly New York is right there.
The answer is a lack of imagination.
At this point, the working holiday year in Australia is a rite of passage that even the least adventurous and unsophisticated Irish person is capable of pulling off.
No it's because they speak English and we have visa arrangements with them and their culture is pretty much the same except they have amazing pies
What is there to do here? It is rainy, wet, overpriced, miserable. For example today is Saturday in Jan. It’s freezing, honestly nothing to do except go to the gym or the pub. Do you blame any young person for wanting a better quality of life?
Is Australia not much too hot a lot of the time?
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Exactly, this isn't emigration, 90% come home
I have a few more * FOMO * Cocaine Culture * Acceptable to be racist
Acceptable to be a racist, thats a good one. In a serious note i hope all of them head to Mars with Musk
They will all want to go to Mars, see: FOMO. Re: The open racism; I lived there (Dad is Aussie, lived there when I was in my teens) and while there is a negative sentiment towards the Irish (at the same level as UK) good luck to you if you are Black Asian or Aboriginal.
Edit: Edited the part on open racism to include comparison to UK
Till youre riding a german in a hostel in Sydney you wont understand it
Australia is a great country with great weather where the youth come to hang.
People who leave Ireland thinking it will solve the problems they have here are idiots, you wont make your fortune in Australia, but you will likely get laid which at the end of the day is what most 20-30 year olds want
I rode an Australian woman in a hostel in Poland, does that count?
I think thats more that "Train across europe" trip college students take. Its similar but not quiet the same.
I suppose the wildest version of this story is "Getting with a Kiwi while climbing Machu Pichu"
It’s too far from family
Enormous pain in the hole getting home when there’s an emergency
They have traditionally been quite welcoming to Irish thicks.
Weather, adventure, growing up and wanting to see the world and of course hope that it is easier there than here. But then, if it isn't, weather will make up for it.
And since so many young Irish have moved there, a lot are following their friends to have the same group together again.
The fact that it is far is one of the draws i think when you are young. Out of fully english speaking countries: Canada is hard to get to for VISA reasons. USA seems like a nightmare to many at the moment and UK... is just not that much different in weather and is too close.
Sun
Change of pace and scenery, granted a lot of people also hate it out there but it's the unknown that's exciting. People know they will struggle here with the cost of living and housing.
Id say it comes down to quality of life. The Economist’s annual Global Liveability ranking. The index ranks the liveability of 173 cities across five categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Australia has three cities in the top 10. Dublin was 39th in 2024.
https://www.thejournal.ie/dublin-city-liveable-ranking-6421032-Jun2024/
https://image.b.economist.com/lib/fe8d13727c61047f7c/m/1/d95f9984-df44-41a6-84e7-9e7bc0b3c788.pdf
English speaking, lots of irish over there and good weather. That said the grass isn't akways greener and there will still be job and housing issues there. I went for a year and came back, distance became just too much with family back home
Manhattan Island now, is that apartment not the Bronx? I could be wrong though?
Edit: I’ll find it later but I’m going to get average rents as I’m sure outliers exist.
Weather and wages and the concept that it will be better than ireland.
The wages are higher vs the cost of living.
The weather.
Money
Great training opportunities. I know several people in Ozz doing courses to be qualified in Trade like jobs, these courses just don't exist in Ireland. Or they only operate in Dublin. My son is hoping to be fully qualified Wind Mill technician when he returns from Australia.
Well london used to cost a damn sight more than limerick for me but I also get paid nearly £50k to work as a carer as opposed to what, minimum wage for same in Limerick? And nowadays, the cost to rent is comparative too, so london wins hands down. Im saving a deposit for a flat. I could be a 2 up 2 down house in limerick for what I have in my account right now
Its same with Australia. Your lifestyle costs inflate but actually you get paid alot top and when time comes yo convert, your "normal" wage and home in Australia can translate to a significant windfall if you sell up shop and move back
Grass is greener and all that
It's a beautiful country,so clean,fabulous weather.Sydney in particular really takes care of the environment, great transport services, building conservation is upheld. I ate out in fabulous restaurants in Sydney and other cities, and no bill went over 250 australian dollars for 5 adults including drinks,which is about 144 euros,fuel is way cheaper, etc etc.
To get experience. Lower tax rate good weather .the UK economy is collapsing usa ruled by a trump Australia is the best option right now if you have a degree good qualifications plus you can meet Irish pals there too I think most people go there for a few y ears it's expensive but it looks like a nice place to go Irish young people have always emigrated for a few years
I would definitely challenger that Dublin is cheaper than Sydney/Melbourne/Perth. Even Sydney has a wide range of rental areas to suit budgets and very high paying jobs. While it’s definitely not cheap jump online and check rents in capital cities compared to Dublin - heck compare it to Limerick or even Waterford and you’ll be surprised.
Factor in excellent public transport (Melbournes tram system for instance), food choices across different budgets and affordable car insurance and it starts making a lot of sense.
Nice weather. LOOOOOOADS of Irish out there. Drive on same side. Same language.
Some people move for the reasons you stated, others follow their friends because they found everyone around them has left. A lot of people leave because everyone in Ireland is settling down, if you’re not in that bracket, leaving gives you a very different lifestyle to the very quiet one back home
The sunnnnnn
Blue collar workers can get paid well in Oz with little or no qualifications. You just need to be a grafter and have a good personality.
High wages
The visa system is a well travelled system making it easier to navigate, lots of people to give you advice
Because I don’t like living here. I’d personally go for New Zealand though as I was born there and it feels like home to me
lol who are you declare whats delusional or not
This is such a typical irish response to things to shit on something ya havent even tried
Melbourne is about a million times better than Dublin, my dude.
Yeah but fuck living in Australia for the wildlife alone.
The problem with every single person who goes to Oz is that they want to live next to the water- the most expensive bloody place in the world. If they lived 30-40mins inland, they may well save something. They don't call it county cooggee or county Bondi for nothing - it's mind boggling.
If a person has a chance to travel to Oz or Nz I’d say go for it , sorry I didn’t go meself in my early 20s , this country is a joke tax’s on tax’s on tax s , it’s a fun sponge of a country , cost of living , ye have to work work work just to get by , pubs & nightclubs shutting down , weather is pants …. Will I keep going ?
Easy living. A house.
Think it just comes down to any economic migrant no matter where they come from like to be around people that are like them.
Oz IS cheaper though - I’ve been in Melbourne for nearly 3 years and once you convert things are pretty much even - aside from rent. I can live on my own here in a lovely apartment not far from the beach on a very average salary. In Galway I was living with 5 other people in a mouldy house and there was nowhere else to move to
Things are dearer but pay and working conditions are better( do you know about leave loading, it is an extra 17% more wage given to you for during your holidays, the sole purpose for it is just to give you more money to spend on holiday), work is unionised which leads to better pay and better work conditions, the sun makes you happier, for a better work/life balance, great food, steaks are much better,
So 18 years ago I was a few months away from movingnto Oz and then I got work opportunity to move to Maltam for betternornworse it derailed my plans.
It is a bit of a right of passage in good and bad times for people to move to Oz. It was being done in celtic tiger for fun, financial crises some for fun some had no choice and it is being done now again.
I think infairness if you have a choice to work in shitty climate living with 7 people in shotty accomodation in Dublin or have similar experience in Oz where you can have an adventure it is a no brainer.
Some peoe in Ireland see Dubai,.Quatar, Saudi etc is manafactured placses where Oz is for British colony.with strong Irish roots. In terms.of English speaking where is better?
No language skills, Oz is English speaking, so they don’t have to bother learning a language.
I'm Irish/English, two of my Irish cousins have settled in Aus and love it, the weather is a plus point, the 'wildlife' less so. One of my English cousins is there, because she married an Australian.
Lol, Australia is better in every department by about 500%.
Dublin was great until the EU took the currency away and pumped us full of Eastern Europeans, who at least worked and spoke English. No they wouldn't even live there.
I moved just to get away from the Irish parochial drama too.
I really can’t be bothered with the way that everyone needs to know everything about everyone and the small minded way of thinking if you even decide to something slightly different. I can live a better life & not think I’m just spending money just to survive
Plus the sunshine honestly makes a world of difference to your mood & life in general.
House prices are as high or higher in Australia.
Melbourne is an incredible city. Dublin is a kip.
it is a kip, too many dubs too proud to admit how actually shit it is
Because they haven’t considered what it will be like to live in a dumbo, regressive ‘culture’.
Australia is a nation of brain dead racists. They make Americans seem positively enlightened in comparison.
I agree, too many racist. In comparison, Irish people are very very decent.
I’d rather be broke and depressed with the sun beating down on my than broke and depressed with the rain beating down on me.
The main thing turning me off it is that there’s too many Irish people. Fuck traveling to the other side of the world to listen to other Irish people. I can do that here.
Why would that bother you? Most are sound and you don't have to interact with them if you don't want to. Back when I was in Melbourne 15 years ago I could always spot groups of Irish by the bootcut jeans.
I wouldn’t say it bothers me, more so id like to experience a whole new country and culture that’s completely different to our own. The Irish are part of Oz culture at this stage, we’ve been there centuries now. I’ve nothing against us but I just have 0 interest in moving somewhere to live with the same people I could live with here. Life is too short for familiarity.
I’m busting my sides laughing at the boot cut jeans hahahahaha
It's a very multicultural place though and the best thing about it is the outdoors.
There's a multitude of reasons, the main ones being 1. Good weather, and 2. And existing social circle.
The fact that Australia has taken over from Canada before it, the uk and us before them, as the place to immigrate to, means that almost everyone has friends or family already there.
I was delayed due to snow in London a few years ago, and we thought he could we call in London, we worked out thay we knew more people in one house in Bondi that in the whole of London.
The weather is a massive plays for Australia too. And the outdoor lifestyle that comes with it.
The vast majority of people I know who have moved to Australia have come back much fitter than they left.
those current bush fires round Melbourne look scary
Nobody usually stays
A lot are just going for a sunny adventure. Some are running away from their problems.