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James McCay

James is a devoted husband, father, and history buff. He studied Creative and Professional Writing at QUT, and is often buried in a book. He writes on a variety of topics, hoping to make a positive difference for readers through his writing.

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Stories by James McCay

carpenter building a house

21 Apr 2026 14:53

Building vs buying a house: What’s cheaper?

Written by James McCay, reviewed by Stephen Zeller

Analysis by Compare the Market finds the difference between the cost of building a house vs the cost of buying, to see which cities have the biggest difference.

A cartoon of a medical centre with a title overlay reading "Global Antibiotic Resistance Index"

21 Apr 2026 11:35

Antibiotic Resistance Index

Written by James McCay

This study shows how antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance vary across Australia and the US.

Cities with the biggest driving fines thumbnail

17 Apr 2026 09:17

Cities with the Highest Driving Fines

Written by James McCay

We’ve compared driving fines across cities in Australia, the US, and Europe to find where they're highest. See which cities ranked at the top of our list.

Detailed view of gloved hands handling electronic components inside an open vehicle engine compartment.

13 Apr 2026 12:30

Study finds Australia has cheapest EV battery replacement globally

Written by James McCay, reviewed by Meredith O'Brien

Compare the Market’s research reveals a surprising win for Aussie motorists, with Australia ranked as the cheapest country to replace an EV battery out of warranty.

Coastal house overlooking rocky shoreline and ocean at sunset, with warm light reflecting on the water.

13 Apr 2026 12:16

Global index ranks Australia among the best countries for holiday homes

Written by James McCay, reviewed by Stephen Zeller

Australia has been named the second-best country in the world for a holiday home destination, according to new research from the home loan experts at Compare the Market.

Black-and-white profile view of a person exhaling a stream of vapor/smoke into a dark background.

13 Apr 2026 12:05

Study finds Australia leads global vaping crackdown

Written by James McCay, reviewed by Steven Spicer

New research from Compare the Market has revealed that Australia is leading the global fight against vaping.

A cartoon image of people in a pharmacy with a title card reading "Global Prescription Price Pain Index"

13 Apr 2026 11:08

Prescription Pain Index

Written by James McCay

Prescription affordability remains a problem globally, even in countries with universal healthcare. Discover prescription costs across the globe in this report.

a couple standing next to their blue EV while it recharges

13 Apr 2026 10:53

Battery evolution provides comfort as fuel prices soar

Written by James McCay, reviewed by Meredith O'Brien

EV batteries have grown in size and driving range. Compare the Market compares the EV battery evolution over time, and looks at whether larger EV batteries are more expensive to charge than smaller ones.

A family play in an indoor swimming pool beneath a sign reading “Cost of Running a Swimming Pool,” with two adults and a child in the water tossing a beach ball.

8 Apr 2026 14:07

Swimming Pool Cost Index

Written by James McCay

How much does it cost to keep a backyard pool running? We compare electricity prices by state to show you where swimming is the most affordable in the country.

a cartoon of people redecorating a house with a title overlay reading "The cheapest areas for second-hand home decorating"

2 Apr 2026 13:34

Second-Hand Home Decorating Index

Written by James McCay

We’ve crunched the numbers to identify the biggest hotspots for second-hand furniture worldwide. Read on to see if your city makes it into our rankings!

a cartoon image of doctors and nurses in a hospital, with a sign behind them on the wall saying "Where healthcare Systems are best staffed"

2 Apr 2026 13:31

Healthcare Workforce Shortage

Written by James McCay

New research uncovers the healthcare workforce shortage across Australia and the US, comparing staffing levels, hospital wait times and doctor shortage by state.

a picture of an electric car being charged with a title card overlay reading "EV Battery Evolution"

2 Apr 2026 13:27

EV Battery Evolution

Written by James McCay

EV batteries have grown in size and driving range. Compare the Market AU compares the EV battery evolution over time, and looks at whether larger EV batteries are more expensive to charge than smaller ones.

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