How Much Does it Cost to Move to Sydney?
Before we move onto the fun stuff, let’s get this out of the way first. Whether we like it or not, accounting for how much it will cost to move to Sydney is an essential part of the moving process. Unfortunately, things are not completely black and white. Instead, the cost of your move to Sydney is dependent on several factors, most crucially the volume and distance of your move.
As a result, the only sure-fire way of getting truly representative estimations, is to request moving quotes from us. However, in the meantime, we want to give you a heads-up by creating this table which outlines to cost of moving a two-bedroom house to Sydney from different locations across Australia.
| From | To | Range | Average |
| Western Australia (Perth) | Sydney | $2,550 – $3,415 | ~$2,982 |
| South Australia (Adelaide) | Sydney | $2,325 – $3,625 | ~$2,975 |
| Victoria (Melbourne) | Sydney | $1,350 – $2,000 | ~$1,675 |
| Queensland (Brisbane) | Sydney | $1,275 – $2,000 | ~$,1637 |
| Northern Territory (Darwin) | Sydney | $3,730 – $4,580 | ~$4,155 |
| Tasmania (Hobart) | Sydney | $2,700 – $4,375 | ~$3,537 |
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Moving to Sydney Checklist
It goes without saying that uprooting a home and relocating to Sydney requires meticulous planning. We also know that people are busy, and things are easily forgotten. This moving to Sydney checklist is therefore here so that you have one less thing to remember!
While the Emerald City has its own unique twists and turns, we also have a more thorough interactive and downloadable moving house checklist if you are itching for more.
Before you head off:
- Find a removalist. The first thing you need to do before relocating to Sydney is to find a trusted removalist. If you are not sure where to start, why not check out our list of removalists in Australia.
- Pack. We are sure you have thought about this one…unless of course you are taking the new minimalism trends to the extreme! Our advice here is that you can never start too early. If you have opted to pack yourself, check out our expert packing guide for tips and tricks on how to take some pressure of your shoulders, literally!
- Inform people of your move. We include utility providers, banks, GPs and of course friends and family in this list.
Once you are in Sydney:
- Register. Be sure to de-register and re-register at your new apartment.
- Healthcare. If you are moving to Sydney from another state, you will also have to update your healthcare plan. Be prepared that your rates might change, so factor this into your budget.
- Driver’s licence. Planning of exploring Sydney and its surroundings on four wheels? Within three months of moving to Sydney, you must get a New South Wales licence. This of course is only relevant if you are moving interstate.
Did you know? For one side to the other, Sydney is double (yes double!) the size of New York City! So take advice from us: either get that driving licence sorted, or your Opal Card which gives you access to the city’s public transport network and is the true mark of a Sydneysider.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a great way to get your move to Sydney off to a smooth start. If you are moving to Sydney from abroad, you will unfortunately have a few more things to organise. We therefore recommend checking out our moving overseas checklist for a comprehensive guide.
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Working and Living in Sydney
It is all good and well completing your move to Sydney, but it is also important to get a picture of what your life might look like once you get there. Trust us, you won’t be short of things to explore; Sydney is a city full of adventure and opportunities.
The cost of living in Sydney
We thought we would get the bad news out of the way first. Unfortunately, living in such a stunning, multi-cultural and dynamic city comes at a price. Sydney is the most expensive state capital in Australia. To help you budget for this, we have created the following table which compares the average cost of living across the whole of Australia with Sydney. We hope this doesn’t put too much of a downer on your move to Sydney!
| Metric | Australian Average | Sydney Average |
| Monthly rent for a 1-bed apartment in the city centre | $1,685 | $2,953 |
| Price per square meter to buy property in the city centre | $8,135 | $13,208 |
| 1L of milk | $1.66 | $1.66 |
| Cappuccino | $4.50 | $4.17 |
| Cinema ticket | $18.00 | $20.00 |
| 0.5L of draught beer | $8.00 | $8.50 |
Don’t let these numbers scare you too much! Of course these costs are largely dependent on where exactly in Sydney you choose to live, and your personal lifestyle. We trust you to be thrifty when needs be 😎.
Housing in Sydney
To rent or to buy? That is the question. We are afraid to break this to you, but neither option is particularly kind to your wallet. However, don’t be too disheartened as these costs are offset by the ample job opportunities, which are outlined below. For the meantime, some of the following information might be useful to consider to organise your accommodation when relocating to Sydney.
If you are looking to rent and share a flat or a room, the following websites are a great place to start:
If you are moving to Sydney on a budget, the following suburbs are the cheapest locations to go for when it comes to renting property. All of the below areas are within 10 kilometres of the city’s CBD:
- Croydon Park (average room price $220/week)
- Earlwood (average room price $220/week)
- Eastlakes (average room price $230/week)
- Tempe (average room price $230/week)
- Concord (average price $240/week)
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Working life in Sydney
Right, enough about how much you are going to spend, and onto how much you are going to make! Much more fun. Salaries in Sydney tend to be high, offsetting the high cost of living. While many of you may have work lined-up before you move to Sydney, we know this is not always the case. Consider joining some of the following job portals if you are still seeking employment in Sydney:
It is also important to understand whether your professional skillset meets the booming Sydney market. The following industries employ the most Sydneysiders:
- Tech
- Finance
- Creative
- Hospitality
At this point we imagine moving to Sydney is feeling quite overwhelming. The working culture is also relatively demanding. But, and this is a big but: the quality of life in Sydney is very high. So those long working days are all worth it when sandy beaches and fresh seafood is on your doorstep!
Ready for Your New Life in Sydney?
Phew, that was a bit of an ordeal we know. However, you can now really consider yourselves experts on moving to Sydney. The Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge truly are on the horizon! If you still have room for more information, consider checking out the pages we have linked for you below –they will help you move with a smile. 😊 For the meantime, take is easy! Moving to Sydney, or indeed anywhere, is stressful, but we trust that you are going to thrive in your new home!
