Work out the cash to have ready for your first 3 or 6 months in Australia: visas, flights, bond, set-up and living costs, and what your employer may cover.
Who’s moving
Adults
2
Area
Value: outer suburbs. Prime: inner and coastal suburbs
Plan for your first
Your move
Your partner
Furniture
Car
Adults who’ll drive
Each driver converts their UK licence
0
Pets need about 6–7 months of preparation and 10 days in quarantine
School
Money coming in
A$9,000
After tax. Use the pay calculator to work it out
£0
Safety buffer
Help from your employer
None
Have this much ready before you moveA$77,676about £40,882 · includes a 1-month safety buffer
Lean start: A$54,830. That’s A$22,846 less if you put off what can wait.
Costs in your first 6 monthsA$109,920
Covered by your employer and othersA$0
Bond you get back laterA$3,400
Running costs a monthA$8,061
Month by month (A$)
WhenOutInBalance
Before you fly21,5900-21,590
Month 148,0259,000-69,615
Month 28,0619,000-68,676
Month 38,0619,000-67,737
Month 48,0619,000-66,798
Month 58,0619,000-65,859
Month 68,0619,000-64,920
Before you fly
Flights out: 4 × A$1,300 (economy, one way) EstimateA$5,200
Visa application charges: main A$4,015 + partner A$4,015 + 2 × child A$1,005 A$10,040
Health checks: 2 × about A$600 + 2 × about A$170 EstimateA$1,540
Police certificates: 2 × about A$130 EstimateA$260
Skills assessment (if your job needs one) EstimateA$1,150
Shipping your belongings EstimateA$3,400
When you land (month 1)
Temporary home: 4 weeks at about A$2,010 a week EstimateA$8,040
Bond: 4 weeks’ rent at A$850 a week (NSW) You get it backA$3,400
Electricity, gas and internet connection EstimateA$150
Furniture and basics EstimateA$4,500
Buying a used car Can waitEstimateA$22,000
Registration and compulsory insurance (NSW, a year) EstimateA$1,000
Converting your UK licence: 1 × A$74 (NSW)A$74
SIM cards, transport card and small set-up EstimateA$800
Eating out and leisure: 2 × A$300 + 2 × A$80 EstimateA$760
Fuel, servicing and tolls EstimateA$320
Overseas visitors health cover (family) EstimateA$450
School fees: 2 × A$6,400 a year ÷ 12 (public school, temporary visa, NSW) A$1,067
Running costs × 6 monthsA$48,366
How we get to A$77,676
All costs above, in your first 6 monthsA$109,920
Your cash is lowest at: Month 1. Costs up to thenA$69,615
Less: paid by your employer and others, and money from the UK− A$0
Less: your Australian pay received by then (none yet: we count your first month’s pay of A$9,000 at the end of month 1, after your cash is at its lowest)− A$0
Shortfall at the lowest pointA$69,615
Plus: safety buffer (1 month of running costs)+ A$8,061
Have this much readyA$77,676
Your first rent payment in advance (up to 2 weeks in NSW) is part of the rent counted from month 1. Many Australian employers pay every two weeks, so your first pay may come sooner; we count it at the end of each month to be safe. The bond (A$3,400) comes back when you leave, so it isn’t taken off.
Rent is A$850 a week for a 3-bed house in Sydney (Domain Rent Report median asking rents, June 2026 quarter, for 2-bed flats and 3-bed houses at the mid level; other sizes and levels are our estimates). Visa charges are the Department of Home Affairs fees from 1 July 2026. Figures checked 2 Oct 2026. Items marked “Estimate” are planning figures. Read Renting in Australia and What it costs to live in Australia.
Estimates to help you plan, not financial advice. Nothing you enter is sent to us.