Originally Posted by
Consultette
If this is not a permanent "for the rest of your life move" and you intend to go back to Aus at some point: Has your company possibly considered making your rent payment for you in lieu of compensating you extra? That is what my company is doing with my housing here in NYC - they are paying for the housing through AP.
I was going to suggest this, too. And either way, the OP should consider "executive apartments" which come fully furnished. The rent is nominally higher, but without the expense of buying furniture, kitchen appliances, etc. and then having to decide what to do with it all at the end of the assignment to the U.S.