If the study below is right, placing Sydney as the second city in the world behind Zurich in domestic purchasing power, what you claim doesn't seem to be true either (actually it appears to be the contrary of what you wrote, with an exceptional take home by world standards ) : http://www.smh.com.au/national/dont-worry-be-happy-sydney-is-not-so-costly-20090819-eqld.html http://www.citymayors.com/economics/usb-purchasing-power.html
Apologies. Im considering the rough sell side VP+ take home in various cities, rather than the average wage vs ipod/big mac. Yes. Sydney is fantastic for under achievers. Bad if you earn anywhere over 70k. Hurrah socialism.
I've only been there as a tourist and what you say might be true for high income earners . As of low income earners, which one sees working along the streets, hotels, attractions, shops and taxis, indeed, they did seem to have a pretty easy life and working schedule compared to other places in the world - it felt very much the same, if not worse, in Melbourne btw. Wondering wether the young foreigners on a 2 year holiday/work visa or whatever the name who are all over the service industry enjoy a similar purchasing power, but they sure don't seem to be working particulary hard.