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To start planning your relocation to the United Kingdom, start navigating the costs of living, understanding the visa requirements and how to move. Keep reading!
On average, you can expect it to cost $12,800 – $17,200 to move a 3-bedroom house to London from Australia. The waiting time for your belongings can range from 9 to 12 weeks.
Find the following table with the estimated costs for moving to London from Sydney:
| Household Size | Cost |
| 1-bedroom house | $5,300 – $7,300 |
| 2-bedroom house | $7,100 – $9,900 |
| 3-bedroom house | $12,800 – $17,200 |
| 4-bedroom house | $13,600 – $18,300 |
| 5-bedroom house | $19,400 – $26,200 |
Disclaimer: The above figures are estimates. The final price will vary depending on your volume, seasonality, services and other factors.
Take a look at our article featuring the best international removalists. Compare their services to find the one that suits you best.
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Compare the most common costs of living between the UK and Australia in this table:
| Metric | Australia | UK |
| Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre | $1,713 | $1,365 |
| Basic monthly utilities for an 85m2 apartment | $222 | $282 |
| 1L of milk | $1.65 | $1.66 |
| Cappuccino | $4.49 | $5.01 |
| 0.5L of draught beet | $8.00 | $6.56 |
| 1L of gasoline | $1.47 | $2.31 |
Source: Numbeo
These figures reflect national averages, and your actual cost of living will depend largely on where exactly you choose to live, and your lifestyle.
Before settling in and experiencing the rainy weather and copious amounts of tea, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the local culture and visa requirements for living and working.
Visa Requirements for Moving to the UK From Australia
You’ll need a visa if you wish to stay for longer than 6 months or work there. There are different visas, depending on your situation.
The following are the most common categories for Australian citizens moving to the UK:
| Visa | Requirements |
| Skilled Worker visa | Have a job offer in the UK to do eligible work approved by the employer |
| Global Talent visa | Have a high skill level in an eligible field of work |
| Innovator Founder visa | Be an entrepreneur with an original business idea that will contribute to the UK economy |
👉 If applicable, you can apply for ancestry visas. This requires you to have at least one grandparent with British citizenship.
Find out your options on the UK Government page Check if you need a UK visa.
Are you a UK citizen moving back to the UK? In that case, you won’t need a visa. However, you will need to take some actions:
Read the full list on the Returning to the UK official page.
Your preferences and priorities will have far more weight, but the most popular places to live in include some of the capitals of the constituent countries – London, Cardiff, and Edinburgh.
Some smaller cities like Bristol or Leeds, recognized by their vibrant and lively atmosphere are also often considered to move in.
💰 If you are on a tight budget, try to avoid relocating to London, where costs are substantially higher. For example, rent prices in Manchester are a whopping 55.56% lower than in the capital!
Once your visa is accepted, it will allow you to start exploring the job market.
The UK is a global leader in many industries, offering many opportunities to anyone searching for work – high salaries, good work-life balance and the international society are only some of the benefits.
As a good place to start, consider exploring some of the following job portals:
Planning a move to the UK from Australia can be a daunting task. To help with this journey, we created a moving checklist.
Most importantly be sure to organise your visa and keep all your important documents in a safe. This includes passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, medical documentation, university degree and visa.
We recommend starting at least one month in advance to give yourself enough time.
It’s important to visit the ATO and figure out your tax situation. Different rules apply to those leaving permanently or that intend to return. Here’s an overview of what to expect:
| Feature | Australia | UK |
| Marginal Tax Rate | 0% – 45% | 0% – 50% |
| Tax-free Threshold | $18,200 | £12,570 |
| Additional Taxes | 2% for Medicare Levy | 0% to 13.25% for National Insurance |
For more information check the official pages Australian Taxation Office and UK Income Tax rates and Personal Allowances.
To ensure that all vehicles on UK roads are safe for drivers, there are also several steps that you must take if bringing a vehicle with you:
The cost can vary from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on the weight, shipping method or distance, between others. Find the table below with a breakdown of the estimated costs:
| Method | Size | Estimated Cost |
| Roll-on/roll-off | Small | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| Roll-on/roll-off | Medium | $2,500 – $3,500 |
| Roll-on/roll-off | Large | $3,000 – $4,000 |
| Container | 20-foot | $3,000 – $4,000 |
| Container | 40-foot | $3,500 – $5,000 |
Disclaimer: These are estimates, the prices can fluctuate depending on many factors as mentioned above.
If you’re moving from Australia to the UK with pets, then you need to ensure that your pet meets the following requirements:
💸 The costs of moving a dog can range from $1,500 to $5,000. Take into consideration possible veterinary fees before travelling and the quarantine your pet may have to go through.
We recommend opening an account with a British bank. Start by exploring some of the banks on the list below. Once you have this setup, transfer over any Australian dollars you have.
If you intend on working when you move to the UK from Australia, you will require a national insurance number to do so. This is similar to an Australian Tax File number. We recommend doing that as soon as possible.
Healthcare in the UK isn’t too difficult to understand as it somewhat resembles the structure of Medicare.
To be eligible to receive free healthcare from the NHS, you must have a National Insurance Number. All emergency care is free of charge, and most non-urgent care too. However, there are some aspects of healthcare you should expect to pay for, such as dentistry and opticians.
While the NHS is one of the best health services in the world, it is understaffed and therefore there can be long waiting times. If this is something that concerns you, getting private health insurance is not a bad idea.
Your Australian driving licence is valid in the UK for up to 12 months. If you are moving for longer than this, you’ll be required to switch to a British one.
If you still have questions, make sure to read the FAQs section below and you check out the articles we have linked for you below!
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