Chapter 3 of 15

Cost of Living

Rent by city, groceries, transport, utilities and monthly budget

Summary

Australia is one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in. High wages largely compensate for this, but as a newcomer, you should be prepared for significant expenses, especially for housing. The national median weekly rent is AUD 665 (EUR 405) in 2025, with strong variation by city. A single person in Sydney needs AUD 100,000-140,000 per year for a comfortable life. This chapter provides a detailed overview of all costs.

What you need to know

Rent by city

The Australian rental market is extremely competitive, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Rental prices are calculated per week, not per month.

City	1-bed (week)	2-bed (week)	House (week)
Sydney	AUD 550-650	AUD 700-850	AUD 750-900

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2. Regions and Cities

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4. Paperwork & Visa

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Complete Emigration Guide Australia

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Knowledge Base

Emigrating to Australia
Complete guide for emigrating to Australia.
Cost of living in Australia
Overview of cost of living in Australia.
Australia visa points system
Australian visa system explained.
Medicare Australia
Everything about Medicare in Australia.
Taxes in Australia
Explanation of the Australian tax system.

Glossary

TFN (Tax File Number)
The Australian tax number. Essential for working (otherwise 47% tax is withheld), opening a bank account and superannuation. Apply at the ATO after arrival.
Medicare (Australia)
The Australian public healthcare system. Covers GP visits, hospital care and medicines (via PBS). The Netherlands has an agreement with Australia — you can access Medicare with your EHIC.
Superannuation (Super)
The Australian mandatory pension savings. Your employer deposits 11.5% of your salary into a super fund. You can choose your super fund. When leaving Australia you can (partially) claim your super back.
ABN (Australian Business Number)
The Australian business number for self-employed and businesses. Free to apply for. Without an ABN, 47% no-ABN withholding tax is withheld on payments.
Centrelink (Government Services)
The Australian government service for social benefits: unemployment, child benefit, care allowances. Access via myGov. Wait times are notoriously long.
ATO (Australian Taxation Office)
The Australian tax office. Tax year runs from July 1 to June 30. Returns due by October 31 (or later via a tax agent). Many Australians use a tax agent.
Skilled Visa (subclass 189/190/491)
The main visa categories for skilled migrants. 189 = independent, 190 = state-nominated, 491 = regional. Your occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List.
PAYG (Pay As You Go)
The Australian payroll tax system: your employer withholds tax directly. As a self-employed person you pay PAYG instalments (quarterly prepayments).
PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)
The Australian medicine subsidy program. Subsidizes medicine costs. With Medicare you pay maximum ~$31 per prescription (or ~$7.70 with concession card).
myGov (Government Portal)
The central online portal for Australian government services: ATO, Medicare, Centrelink. Comparable to MijnOverheid.nl. Create an account as soon as you have a TFN.