Can I live in Australia without a car?

In the inner suburbs of the big cities, yes: trains, buses, trams and ferries are frequent, and you can tap on with a bank card. Further out, distances grow quickly and most households have a car.

Can you manage without a car?

It depends far more on where you live than which city you choose. Living near a train, metro, tram or ferry stop, and working in the city centre, many people manage without one. In outer suburbs, regional towns and for weekend sport and school runs, a car usually becomes a necessity.

• Before you sign a lease, test the commute at rush hour in your state’s journey planner app
• Check how often buses run in the evening and at weekends, not just at peak times
• Supermarkets, GPs and schools within walking distance make the biggest difference

Cards and fares by city

Fares change, usually once a year. Check the operator’s website or app before you budget.

Sydney: Opal

• Tap on and off with an Opal card or a contactless bank card or phone. A bank card gets the same fares and caps as an adult Opal card
• Trains, metro, buses and light rail are 30% cheaper off-peak and all day Friday to Sunday
• The airport train stations add an access fee to each trip, and it doesn’t count towards your caps
• Children, students and holders of some concession cards pay less, with a weekly cap of A$25

Melbourne: myki

• Tap on with a myki card. On trams and at train stations, full-fare passengers can also tap on with a bank card or phone
• Trams in the city centre’s Free Tram Zone are free, with no need to tap on
• Since 1 January 2026, children and young people under 18 travel free in Victoria with a Youth myki, which costs A$5
• The half-price offer covers trains, trams and buses, including regional services. It doesn’t cover SkyBus to the airport

Brisbane and south-east Queensland: go card

• Every Translink trip costs 50 cents, by go card, bank card or paper ticket, on buses, trains, ferries and trams
• An adult go card has a A$10 refundable deposit
• The 50-cent fare also applies on Translink’s regional town buses

Perth and Adelaide

Perth’s single fare means a trip across the city costs the same as one stop. Adelaide charges a flat fare too, cheaper off-peak, and has added tap and pay with a bank card on its trains. Both have discounted fares for students and concession card holders.

Rideshare and taxis

Uber and DiDi are the main rideshare apps, and taxis can be hailed, found at ranks or booked by app. The app shows a price before you book, and it rises at busy times. In NSW, every taxi and rideshare trip includes a A$1 passenger service levy, extended to June 2029.

Bikes, scooters and car sharing

• Wearing a bike helmet is the law across Australia
• E-scooter rules differ by state and city, including whether you can ride a private one on the road. Check before you buy
• Car-share schemes rent cars by the hour from bays in the inner suburbs: useful for a big shop or a day out