Cameras

Here is a high-end Digital SLR camera on sale at a store in Australia:

http://www.jbhifi.com.au/photo/digital-cameras/canon/21-1mp-dslr-body-only-sku-19908/ - $3,293 (AUD)

and the same is found in a store in American:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Canon+-+EOS+5D+Mark+II+21.1-Megapixel+Digital+SLR+Camera+-+Black/9152454.p?id=1218036981084&skuId=9152454 - $2,499.99 (USD)

It's only a difference of about $800AUD which isn't actually as bad as the past examples (in terms of overall %)

Not that I wear make-up...

My wife always complains that make-up in Australia is an absolute rip-off. I don't have a clue, but I know how to use the internet so here is an example of what we find in Big W:

http://www.bigw.com.au/beauty-health/make-up/face/bpnBIGW_0000000122937/revlon-photoready-powder - $34.84 (AUD)

Here is the same product in Walmart USA:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/REVLON-PHOTO-READY-POWDER-LIGHT-MEDIUM/13865254 - $11.97 (USD)

300% seems to be the magic number for price differences in a lot of products I've already mentioned.

A Baby Swing

As if being a parent doesn't already cost enough money, what's with Big W selling this Fisher-Price 'My Little Lamb Cradle Swing' found here:

http://www.bigw.com.au/baby/playtime-toys-gifts/walkers-swings/bpnBIGW_0000000128239/fisher-price-my-little-lamb-cradle-n-swing - $288.00 (AUD)

when the exact same product can be found at Walmart in USA:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Cradle-Swing-Lamb/10543153 - $99.54 (USD)

Exact same product, $200 difference.

House Shopping

Yes, it's a dream of mine to finally own a home and I regularly check realestate prices both here in Western Australia and overseas. I don't have any desire to take out a $400,000 mortgage, but in Australia that is now the norm. What can an unrealistic, enourmouse debt get me?

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-balga-107236034 - a 3 bed, 1 bath piece of junk 'from' $400,000 (AUD)

or if I take a look in Raleigh, North Carolina I have another option...

http://realestate.yahoo.com/North_Carolina/Raleigh/8214-marvino-ln:18edfec6c83cadc4c2a4772c526dc56;_ylt=AkVfTMNxQOcKZWWQx1.eJHxn47Qs - a 6 bed, 4 bath, 3 storey (including basement) palace for $400,000 (USD)

Sigh...

Do babies need a budget?

I remember seeing how much baby items cost while in America and the horror I felt when I came back to Australia. In my mind, a cot/crib was about $200 - after all it's just wood (or metal) and a mattress. Boy, was I wrong. Take a look at this 'Baby on a Budget' cot:

https://www.babyonabudget.com.au/shop/p-kingparrot-sleigh-cot-/-bed.html - $899.95 (AUD)

And then take a look at this Walmart alternative

http://www.walmart.com/ip/14659319 - $139.00 (USD)

Sure, they are not identical - I never said they were, but for the price difference, do you honestly care? Baby on a budget? Yeah, a bloody big budget!

So I want to buy a car...

I like the BMW M3 - classy, but not too over the top. Looking at the BMW Australia website, I found the following price guide:

M3 Coupe - Recommended Drive Away Price  $170,718.93 (AUD) in Western Australia
http://bmw.com.au/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m3coupe/2007/compare.html

Unless you earn over $300,000 per year, you're bloody stupid to buy a car for that much... but I wonder how America decides to price the M3...

M3 Coupe - Starting at $58,900 MSRP (USD)
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/content/vehicles/2011/m/default.aspx

That doesn't include sales tax, but with the quote being in USD, in todays exchange rate that's approximately $56,000 AUD - why does Australia pay an extra $115,000 AUD?

I will stick with driving my Suzuki Alto, one of the cheapest available cars in Western Australia. To be honest, it's a bloody good car for the size and price.

Huh?

Since this is my first blog post, I figure I need to explain the concept, and it's quite simple really. I want to know why am I being ripped off? This blog is the product of my need to vent my frustration, and perhaps educate some people along the way, about how much Australia Pays for stuff, and compare that to how much America pays. It's just not fair.