Chuck, you might be gilding the lilly a little there. Fuel £1.30, not yet. Maybe after a few nukes get tossed around the middle east, but at the moment fuel is below the pound. Paid £0.94/litre yesterday. Admittedly haven't eaten in Maccas for a while, but £4.50 would get a whole meal not just a burger.
Not going to enter into the wages argument J* versus the world, but what Chuck is trying to express is true. The only time you can compare what you are earning overseas to back in Aus is when you leave and go home, go on hols or pay off an Aussie mortgage. The only problem is you still have to live up here. LCC Captains would be on over $200K aus up here. The only time that number is any good is during a d..k pulling contest down the pub!
Haven't been home for years but am told it is a hell of a lot more expensive than when i left (pre GST) and you get shafted on income tax. What is the top rate now? $0.48 in the $1, ouch! Guess you have to keep the guys on the beach in beer money.