Is the cost of living higher in the U.S?

Wages and Tax

There are no State Income taxes in South Dakota. Almost all the other states have state taxes
South Dakota is one of the poorest States and has the lowest wages, however its educational standards and testing are consistently in the top four States of the U.S. Iowa and Minnesota are probably the best States for educational standards.
The taxes in SD are raised by taxing landowners.
The basic wages for teachers are around $22000 US. ($30000 Australia). But poorer schools cannot afford these wages and some earn as little as $16000 a year. Some teachers who have been teaching over 10 years are still paid $22000 because the school cannot afford to pay more.
Often new teaching graduates seek employment in other states, which pay much higher wages.

Petrol

Gasol is also used which is 20% alcohol corn and 80% gasoline

Unleaded petrol = $1.65 US a gallon

2.5 litres = 1 gallon

0.66 US cents (0.93 cents Australia = 1 litre

1 litre = $1.05 in Australia

So – a little cheaper in the U.S.

Medical

One course of Penicillin tablets

$98 US ($138 Australian) (for 20 tablets)

We spoke to a lady who was fully insured. She had a baby and was $5000 US out of pocket.

Medical insurance in America is very expensive if your employer does not subsidize you and the increases have been very steep in the last 2 years especially.

Computers

You can get laptops (Toshiba Pentium 4, XP pro, 256 Ram, 40 gig hard drive, DVD/CD burner, wireless etc for $1100 US ($1530 Australia) which is a good deal. In Australia this model sells for $2530. Overall, electronic equipment in the US seems to be cheaper.

Telephone

Very expensive in the US – extremely cheap in Australia where you can ring the States for half an hour for just a couple of dollars. Over here it is about $1(US) a minute.

Housing

Our nearest town is Highmore. Good two storey, 3 bedroom homes with a basement and an attached garage sell for about $45000 US ($62,000 Australian) which is very reasonable but these homes could be found in rural Australia too.
The same house in a small town near a major city costs double this amount. Many people like to have the benefits of living in a small town then commute daily to work in the city.

New pair of spectacles

$520 US ($715 Australian). That’s one pair! Thankfully it does include the eye examination. The rebate from health insurance is $200 US. At that price you’d not want to loose them or sit on them.