What’s the #1 Problem Every American Faces in Australia? One Expat Reveals the Shocking Truth

When most people think of Australia, they picture endless sunshine, golden beaches, and a climate that’s warm year-round. But as any long-term resident will tell you, that’s only half the story. While our summers can be scorchers, the Australian winter brings a chill that’s not just felt outside—but right inside our own homes. And for many expats, especially those from colder countries, this comes as a real shock.


Recently, American expat John Pabon, who’s called Melbourne home for the past six years, made headlines for exposing what he calls the 'biggest problem' with living Down Under: the bone-chilling cold inside Aussie houses during winter. And he’s not alone—many newcomers (and plenty of locals!) are left shivering and scratching their heads, wondering why our homes seem so ill-equipped to keep us warm.


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Australian homes are being highlighted as among the coldest in the world, often falling below the WHO's recommended minimum indoor temperature. Credit: @Johnapabon / TikTok


Why Are Aussie Homes So Cold?


You might be surprised to learn that, according to the United Nations, Australian homes are among the coldest in the developed world. The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C for health and comfort, but a staggering 80% of Aussie homes fall short of this standard during winter. In fact, the average winter temperature inside our homes is just 16.5°C, and in some of the colder states, it can drop as low as 10.9°C!

So, what’s going on? According to John, the problem comes down to 'leaky' houses, substandard construction, and poor insulation. Unlike in Europe or North America, where double-glazing, central heating, and thick insulation are the norm, many Australian homes are built to keep cool in summer, not to trap warmth in winter. The result? Drafts, cold floors, and a constant battle to stay warm.

The Impact on Health and Wellbeing


It’s not just about comfort—living in a cold home can have serious health consequences, especially for older Australians, people with disabilities, and those facing housing insecurity. Cold indoor temperatures can worsen conditions like arthritis, increase the risk of respiratory illnesses, and even impact mental health. As John points out, 'If you’re cold, you’ll be miserable, but if you’re a vulnerable person or younger or sick, a cold house with rising damp won’t be amazing.'

And it’s not just expats who are noticing. One Adelaide Hills resident told the ABC that it was actually warmer in her fridge than in the rest of her house! That’s a chilling thought, literally and figuratively.

How Do Aussies Cope?


If you’ve ever wondered why so many Aussies seem to live in their dressing gowns, ugg boots, and puffer jackets all winter long, now you know! Canadian expat Alexandra Tuohey even dubbed these items 'indoor thermal wear'—a uniquely Australian solution to a uniquely Australian problem. The Oodie (a giant wearable blanket), ugg boots, and puffer jackets have become winter staples in homes across the country.

But it’s not just about what you wear. Aussies have become masters of the winter hack. Some popular tricks include:

- Door snakes: These handy draft stoppers block cold air from sneaking in under doors.
- Bubble wrap on windows: Believe it or not, sticking bubble wrap to your windows can help insulate them and keep the warmth in.
- Layering up: Before you crank up the heater, try adding another layer of clothing or snuggling under a blanket.
- Portable heaters: While not always energy efficient, a small heater can make a big difference in a chilly room.
- Rugs and curtains: Covering bare floors and windows helps trap heat and keep out the cold.


Why Don’t We Just Fix the Problem?

You might be wondering why, in a country as developed as Australia, we haven’t solved this problem. The answer, unfortunately, is money. Retrofitting homes with proper insulation, double-glazed windows, and efficient heating systems is expensive, and for many homeowners and renters, it’s just not feasible. Plus, with our focus on keeping cool in summer, winter warmth has often taken a back seat in home design.

However, there is growing awareness of the issue, and some states are starting to introduce minimum energy efficiency standards for new builds and rentals. But for now, most of us will have to keep reaching for the Oodie and the hot water bottle when the mercury drops.


Tips for Staying Warm This Winter

If you’re dreading another cold Aussie winter, here are a few extra tips to help you stay cosy:

1. Seal up drafts: Use weather stripping or draft stoppers on doors and windows.
2. Close off unused rooms: Only heat the rooms you’re using to save energy and keep the warmth where you need it.
3. Use thermal curtains: These can make a big difference in keeping the heat in and the cold out
4. Warm up your bed: Electric blankets or hot water bottles can make bedtime much more inviting.
5. Move around: Gentle exercise can help get your blood flowing and warm you up from the inside out.


Credit: TikTok

Key Takeaways
  • An American expat in Melbourne has highlighted that Aussie homes are among the coldest in the world, often failing to meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended minimum indoor temperature of 18 degrees Celsius.
  • More than 80 per cent of Australian homes don’t reach this temperature during winter, with some states averaging as low as 10.9 degrees indoors, putting vulnerable people at higher risk.
  • Poor insulation, leaky construction and substandard building practices are blamed for the chilly indoor conditions, and fixing these issues would require a massive financial investment.
  • Aussies commonly use makeshift methods like door snakes, bubble wrap, extra blankets and special indoor thermal wear such as Oodies, ugg boots and puffer jackets to keep warm inside their homes during winter.
Have you noticed how cold Aussie homes can get in winter? Do you have any tried-and-true tips for keeping warm, or have you experienced any 'shocking' moments like our expat friends? Share your stories, hacks, and winter survival strategies in the comments below—let’s help each other stay toasty this winter.
 

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Oh dear, what a sook, nothing better than our winter's down south. Ice on the grass and the hose will not work, frozen.
You know your alive in winter and just add more clothes or blankets.
Summer is harder to be comfortable, you can only take off a certain amount of clothes. If no air conditioning in the dwelling you could sweat considerably.
 
I was just sitting here thinking how cold it is inside/raining outside. I`m going to get a hot water bottle in a few minutes and put on some warmer clothes. We have air conditioning, but our last electricity bill was over the top. So will try to conserve/for a while. I think there should be more consideration made when building new houses and some incentives to improve the energy efficiencey in older homes. We do have solar panels, but no battery, thermal curtins and carpet on the bedroom floors. But it is still very cold tonight and will get colder as winter progresses. Summer is O.K because we have ceiling fans and less restricted with the solar.
 
Prepare yourself for those chilly winter days and nights by investing in,
leg warmers,
warm mittens,
woolly socks,
extra warm slippers, warm outdoor footwear or UGG boots,
warm underwear like thermo tops and thermo leggings,
beenie,
ear muffins,
warm scarf,
warm Parker or warm jacket,
fleecy warm blankets,
safe portable heater.
If you can't manage to get all of these, then even a few of these items will make a big difference in keeping you warm.
And for that extra warm comfort, a very warm cup of camomile tea, and before you know it, it will be spring, 🙏🦋
 
Prepare yourself for those chilly winter days and nights by investing in,
leg warmers,
warm mittens,
woolly socks,
extra warm slippers, warm outdoor footwear or UGG boots,
warm underwear like thermo tops and thermo leggings,
beenie,
ear muffins,
warm scarf,
warm Parker or warm jacket,
fleecy warm blankets,
safe portable heater.
If you can't manage to get all of these, then even a few of these items will make a big difference in keeping you warm.
And for that extra warm comfort, a very warm cup of camomile tea, and before you know it, it will be spring, 🙏🦋
 
  • Haha
Reactions: novezar
I have to agree with this guy. I come from Scotland with very low temperatures, snow and icy winds in Winter. However, our houses are built to withstand the cold in winter with double brick homes and good insulation. However, since moving up to Queensland from Melbourne I find the houses here unbelievably cold in winter. Insulation seems to be non-existent, making the homes hot in summer and cold in winter. It's not rocket science - why are homes not built to withstand the changing weather? It is ridiculous you have to go outside to get warm, and dress for an Arctic expedition inside!
 
It's easier to keep warm in winter than to keep cool in summer.
Who else, besides my father and me, barely feel the cold?
I haven't owned any winter clothing for almost 2 decades.
I wear the same clothes all year round with sandals and often feel hot and sweaty in winter!
Very seldom will I wear a gown at home or a cardigan/summer jacket outside.
 
Oh dear, what a sook, nothing better than our winter's down south. Ice on the grass and the hose will not work, frozen.
You know your alive in winter and just add more clothes or blankets.
Summer is harder to be comfortable, you can only take off a certain amount of clothes. If no air conditioning in the dwelling you could sweat considerably.
I've always found your perspective to be the truth. You can rug up, but you can't 'shed your skin'!
 
I’m basically a frog I’m so cold blooded lol. But since we moved I’m not feeling as cold as I felt in our last home. We had a wood fire and two reverse air cons but being such an old house I was never warm. Now we have a new house with ducted heating and a reverse air con plus the outside temperature doesnt get as cold as our last place so I’m in heaven lol
 
It's easier to keep warm in winter than to keep cool in summer.
Who else, besides my father and me, barely feel the cold?
I haven't owned any winter clothing for almost 2 decades.
I wear the same clothes all year round with sandals and often feel hot and sweaty in winter!
Very seldom will I wear a gown at home or a cardigan/summer jacket outside.
How do you cope in summer? Must be an uncomfortable season for you.
 
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Reactions: Colette 3799
All I can say is, for all citizens living in the "Cold" districts, especially pensioners who are doing it tough, watch out.

This is especially to all the ones who fell for the ABSOLUTE BULL SHIT & LIES peddled by Albo, Chalmers & company about power etc., to vote the DOPES back in, well you are all in for one real bad deal. One which we will all pay dearly.

Instead of electricity costs going down by $275, as preached, they went up by $1,300, now in NSW going up another 9%.
Just in time for Mr. Winter to come & hit us all in the face.

So I ask you, How are you going to pay for your electricity bill ?
Will you not use your radiators to try to keep warm ?
How will you be able to keep warm ?

I know your answers. i.e., just turn everything off & go to bed by at least 6pm every night, if not before.

I did mention months ago, in these postings, that if Albo gets back in, pensioners who are doing it tough, better go & rush out to buy some extra blankets from your "Op Shop", before winter because you'll be needing them.

It very much looks as though I may well be right in my assumptions.

Oh don't worry too much, as Albo preaches everything about how Global Warming is having an effect on us.

T
Well all of you can only hope for, is that he is correct & we have a "Global Warming" winter.

Please don't bet on it, because it wont happen.
Be prepared & keep warm, if you can.
 
  • Sad
  • Like
Reactions: PattiB and 7777
Our little weather board 1957s house is freezing in the winter and roasting hot in the summer. Thankfully we have ducted heating and cooling. I find if l am doing my chours each day l don't notice the cold until later in the afternoon. Of course if we have visitors l put the heater on. Being full of arthritis l feel the cold dreadfully. But if l keep busy l am ok. The heat can be very wearing. But it's been 44 years and we just go with the flow. We didn't grow up with ducted heating or any cooling so what you never had you didn't know the difference. We did not put the heating and cooling into the old house of sticks until 1994 oh my goodness we were in heaven ever so grateful for these luxuries.
Kind regards to all Vicki
 
The BRAINLESS NONG is the wanker called Al Gore who brought the lies and deceit of global warming in his mocumentary "An Inconvenient Truth" in 2006.

I have had an avid interest in this "phenomenon" since the late 1980s. The whole shit fight is nothing but a global governmental cash grab at the expense of the average citizen.

And now we have the disturbed tossers like Greta Thunberg and the Extinction Rebellion.
 
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Reactions: ROD 53
It's easier to keep warm in winter than to keep cool in summer.
Who else, besides my father and me, barely feel the cold?
I haven't owned any winter clothing for almost 2 decades.
I wear the same clothes all year round with sandals and often feel hot and sweaty in winter!
Very seldom will I wear a gown at home or a cardigan/summer jacket outside.
Don't suppose you are from Darwin? Also when do you get to wash your clothes if you wear the same ones all year round? Phew! Lol.
 
Lived there on Isle of Capri for two years but about 20-odd years ago. I know what you mean and I do miss the Gold Coast.
 
  • Love
Reactions: mOiOz

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