Moving to Canberra

Hi all,

We are moving to Canberra early next year. Since we don't have friends or family in Canberra, we would much appreciate if you could provide us with details about the lifestyle, cost, etc.

We are both trained Attorneys at law and will have to initially find work as para-legals before obtaining the proper qualification to work in Australia. Thus we might have to live on a budget at least in the first 6 months (Or until we land on decent jobs )

We would like if you could advise us on the following,
      1. Apartment cost - Are there areas that are cheaper, what should we look for and what should we avoid?

      2. Cost of food - Since we are used to rice and curry we would mostly cook our meals. Are there specific places to get groceries and spices?

      3. Weather - How can we survive the winter? (Average temperature in Colombo is between 27C-32C through out the year)

      4. Job Opportunities - What is the best time to consult a headhunter? Should we pay for them?

Thanks in advance!

Madu