Interesting ... there was a story on one of the 6.30 TV shows last night about this very subject, and comparisons were shown in the cost of similar articles between the Uk the US and Australia.
Food was dearer here across the board and the comment was made that as well as paying more for it, our prime beef and fish were being exported to Asia while we got the second rate stuff. Same for a lot of the fruit lines. Milk was cheaper here.
Ikea was on average 50% more expensive here than in the UK and over 100% more than in the US.
I remember when Ford were building the 1980/90s Capri here. The US version had a much higher spec level and even allowing for transport costs to the US, still sold for significantly less over there than the economy model we were stuck with here. But car pricing has always been a bit of a mystery in Australia, and is never fully explained away by all the tired reasons the industry and government trot out from time to time.
I guess we just have to accept that we live in the best country in the world, we're lucky not to have land borders with anyone else, and we have a sort of stable government.
If we have to pay a little more for our comfortable and peaceful life style, then so be it. (And you can still find a nice steak or barra fillet if you look hard enough!)