Sydney is in the top 3 most expensive cities in the world and for new arrivals some of the prices can be absolutely jaw dropping. Be very, very careful when negotiating your salary here as you really do have to factor in a significantly higher cost of living. That being said you certainly get your moneys worth. It is one of the great world cities.
For rent of a nice 2-bedroom apartment within walking distance to the CBD you should count on between 1200-2000 dollars a month with 1500 getting you a nice place. For a flat share divide this number as appropriate.
Rough guide to prices:
Rent: 200-1000 a week per room
Mens haircut 15-100
Cinema ticket 20
Restaurant meal with wine 35-100
Real World Examples
A Single Londoner Living in Sydney earning 80k AUD
- Weekly Rent – 575 per week for a one bed place in the CBD
- Gas and electricity – 100 per month
- Internet – 60 per month
- Phone – 60 per month
- Gym – 100 per month
- Transport – 35 per week.
Total fixed outgoings: 2400 per month
A family of 4 living in Sydney. Single earner with a 150k salary (working in IT) and a 300k mortgage.
- Take home pay – $8000 a month.
- Mortgage – $2000 a month on 25 year term
- Trip to cinema for two adults and two kids – $100
- Meal out for 4 – $100-150
- Running a family car – $1600 for registration, CTP insurance, plus fuel costs
- Household costs – $2000 insurance, $1000-1500 rates plus water, gas, elec. Typically $2/day elec and $1.50/day gas with careful usage
Calculators
If you have been offered a job, or you are looking at potential salaries it’s a good idea to work out exactly what you will get after tax. This Australian salary calculator is a useful tool to work out what your take home pay will be.
This mortgage calculator is also useful to see how much of a loan you could get with your salary and how much the repayments would be.