Perth is a beautiful city located on the west coast of Australia. It is a great place to visit for a couple of days at most. For those of you who are planning on relocating to Perth from a developed city, you should continue reading below.
If you are coming from the east coast of Australia or countries such as the UK US and Canada, you may be in for a shock relocating to Perth. One of the few things I really can't stand about Perth is its bizarrely provincial attitude to certain issues (i.e. trading hours), where by 5:30pm most shops are closed and the place becomes a ghost town. Nightlife is not even worth mentioning. Besides the beautiful beaches, Perth is just boring. No food culture to speak of and overall low on the fun scale.
2) Fashion Disaster
3) Intolerance and Racism
Casual racism is rampant in Perth, especially towards Asians, Indians and Aboriginals. I've lost count how many times the conversation has lead in this direction since moving to Perth. It is not uncommon to see Bintang singlets driving utes with "fuck off we're full" (or even better, "fuck off were full") bumper stickers on the back.
4) Culture (or lack there of)
Most Perth people's idea of broadening their horizons is to fly to Bali, get pissed and boss around the locals. In the city there is a dearth of decent cultured entertainment that isn't tinged with a bogan element. Perth is famous in Australia for being labeled the land of cashed up bogans. There is very little interest in the arts or food culture here.
5) Isolation
6) Expensive Cost Of Living
Being the most isolated city in the world has many downsides, including the costs of goods. Items shipped from the East Coast can cost up to 30% more than what we pay here in Perth. Grocery prices including fruit and vegetables are way more costly than in Sydney and Melbourne. If you are coming from the US, expect to pay up to 200% more for everyday living expenses such as food, clothes and utilities. Housing and rent has recently cooled down in price due to the bust in the mining boom. If you do decide to relocate here, make sure you have backup money to last at least 6 months.
7) Jobs Opportunities
Perth and WA was once the jewel in the crown of Australia for high paid employment. In fact, many people from all over the world, especially New Zealand and Britain would come here for some fast cash and sun. Those days are now over, with employment levels plummeting. The days of being paid $180,000 a year to drive a truck are over. Sadly many shops in both the city and suburbs have closed up due to lack of business. So once again, either secure a job before arriving in Perth, or be prepared to live off savings until you can find some work.
1) Boring Boredom Yawn!If you are coming from the east coast of Australia or countries such as the UK US and Canada, you may be in for a shock relocating to Perth. One of the few things I really can't stand about Perth is its bizarrely provincial attitude to certain issues (i.e. trading hours), where by 5:30pm most shops are closed and the place becomes a ghost town. Nightlife is not even worth mentioning. Besides the beautiful beaches, Perth is just boring. No food culture to speak of and overall low on the fun scale.
2) Fashion Disaster
Western Australians put very little effort into their appearance. It is a common sight to see both men and women wearing board shorts, flip flops with a Bintang singlet to local bars and restaurants. Tattoo'd bogans are also a common sight in Perth, with people sporting their tough stickers more so than not. Perth will not be the next Paris or Milan in terms of fashion anytime soon.
3) Intolerance and Racism
Casual racism is rampant in Perth, especially towards Asians, Indians and Aboriginals. I've lost count how many times the conversation has lead in this direction since moving to Perth. It is not uncommon to see Bintang singlets driving utes with "fuck off we're full" (or even better, "fuck off were full") bumper stickers on the back.
4) Culture (or lack there of)
Most Perth people's idea of broadening their horizons is to fly to Bali, get pissed and boss around the locals. In the city there is a dearth of decent cultured entertainment that isn't tinged with a bogan element. Perth is famous in Australia for being labeled the land of cashed up bogans. There is very little interest in the arts or food culture here.
5) Isolation
Perth is the most isolated city on the planet. With a population of just over 2 million people, you can really feel the isolation to the rest of the world. Not just in distance, but in the narrow minded attitudes of many of it's population. Pride in anti-intellectualism, and a dedicated apathy towards politics. People who live out in the suburbs and never ever venture further than their local shopping centre, and worse, people who spend all day in the city but still don't know how to behave in a city.
6) Expensive Cost Of Living
Being the most isolated city in the world has many downsides, including the costs of goods. Items shipped from the East Coast can cost up to 30% more than what we pay here in Perth. Grocery prices including fruit and vegetables are way more costly than in Sydney and Melbourne. If you are coming from the US, expect to pay up to 200% more for everyday living expenses such as food, clothes and utilities. Housing and rent has recently cooled down in price due to the bust in the mining boom. If you do decide to relocate here, make sure you have backup money to last at least 6 months.
7) Jobs Opportunities
Perth and WA was once the jewel in the crown of Australia for high paid employment. In fact, many people from all over the world, especially New Zealand and Britain would come here for some fast cash and sun. Those days are now over, with employment levels plummeting. The days of being paid $180,000 a year to drive a truck are over. Sadly many shops in both the city and suburbs have closed up due to lack of business. So once again, either secure a job before arriving in Perth, or be prepared to live off savings until you can find some work.
8) Alcohol Fueled Violence
Due to the dull atmosphere of Perth and it's surrounding urban sprawl, it is not a huge surprise that alcohol fueled violence is an epidemic. Some hot spots for violence include the electorate of Perth being the worst, with 1709 reports of alcohol-caused serious assaults.There were 548 reports in Fremantle, 514 in Victoria Park and 475 in Belmont. Bicton ranked fifth in the metropolitan area. Bassendean, Mirrabooka, Midland, Burns Beach and Armadale made up the top 10 electorates.The worst regional electorate for alcohol-fuelled violence was the Kimberley, with 1234 serious assaults, then the Pilbara and Kalgoorlie. Overall Perth is a beautiful city, but utopia it certainly isn't.