Moving to Sydney, Australia: Tips & Tricks

Often considered one of the coolest cities in the world, Sydney is a city many people yearn to move to. With any move, you need to be prepared with the best tips & tricks - so look no further!

Roxana is guest posting today by sharing some super helpful tips for moving to Sydney, Australia!

Moving to Sydney: Tips & Tricks

So, you’ve decided to move to Sydney. Well, in all honesty, it is a really beautiful city with tons of beaches to make your free time even better.

But, it’s important to put away the pink glasses for a while and consider all the other aspects that involve your Sydney move.

This doesn’t mean that there are unexpected negative sides to Sydney, but moving to a different city is a serious decision and you should be prepared for changes as much as possible.

Therefore, let’s take a look at what you should expect when it comes to some of the most pressing questions regarding your move.

Finances, Wages and Living Costs in Sydney

Of course, your salary will depend on the type of job that you have. So, if you’re not sure how this job actually pays, you can consult with special salary calculators that would give you an estimate for the specific position that you want.

There are also several websites such as Indeed Jobs, Adzuna, Career One, Working in Australia, Seek, My Career and Adecco that are the main sources of job opportunities.

If you don’t want to pay more than $30,000 for a new car, expect that the monthly public transport will cost you around AU $139, while a taxi ride of around 8km is usually AU $22.

Moreover, housing rent depends on the size of your home as well as the location. The price is not the same in either expensive nor normal areas.

So, if you’re looking for an already furnished accommodation, monthly rent for a 85 square meters apartment (900 Sqft) in an expensive area will cost you around AU $3,786 while in the normal area, it would be around AU $2,858. Utilities for a flat of this size are usually around AU$ 306.

Neighbourhoods

As mentioned before, depending on the area you want to live in, your living expenses and rent costs will change.

Suburbs are, of course, the places to look into. In general, the most popular suburbs are the Newtown and North Sydney suburbs. The latter are more family-oriented.

Bondi and Coogee Beaches are nice areas, but they are full of tourists.

Darlinghurst and the surrounding areas are really expensive, so keep this in mind.

Manly is very lively, but the ferry cost can build up.

Those who’re moving to Sydney due to academic reasons should definitely consider Randwick.

Kirribilli and Neutral Bay are also good choices since the areas are beautiful and it’s easy to travel around.

Real Estate

When looking for a place to buy or rent in Sydney, it’s essential that you get the most Sydney real estate info possible.

You can get enough information just by doing your research online. People readily share their experience with different agencies. Still, if you could get word-of-mouth recommendation that would be highly desirable.

You’ll be expected to provide the necessary paperwork as well, so make sure to tend to this before you make an offer.

Things To Do in Sydney (& What It Costs)

Luckily, there’s no lack of entertainment in Sydney. The cultural diversity also brings various forms of fun so there really isn’t anything that you could possibly miss while living here.

Still, you have to organize your time well because of the traffic, closing times and other additional factors in order to really have a great time.

A beer in a pub will cost you around AU $7 while a dinner for two will leave you AU $47 lighter.

Then again, if you wish to dine in a fancy restaurant, don’t expect anything less than AU $115.

Two movie tickets will cost you AU $40 and if you’re a fan of theater, be prepared to spend AU $236 for two good seats.

Food and Drinks

If you’re interested in knowing how much money you’ll need for food and drinks per day that are enough for the whole family, an average sum is around AU $85. And if your daily necessities include cigarettes, make sure that you have an extra AU $25.

Still, you can’t complain about the choice of food because not only do the supermarkets offer a wide range of goods, but there are so many various fast food places with different cultural backgrounds that it would take you more than a year to try out all of them.

The restaurant scene is absolutely diverse with a lot of top quality restaurants, which Sydney is very well known for.

The living costs might have left you concerned, but you should be aware that salaries are also appropriate for the said living costs. Therefore, don’t forget to secure your position before you move and check what your income will be beforehand!

Written by Roxana

Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family.

Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing following her on twitter and facebook. She is also one of the editors at Highstylife Magazine.