Living in Sydney?

Question

What will it cost to live in Sydney? Rent?- I've looked at domain.au and it is so broad, so in general something decent in a nice "cool" area not too far from the beach/water and not far from the nightlife. Looking for a 2 bedroom. What about costs for food, utilities, etc? What do I realistically need to budget for each month? I'm negotiating with my company on relo and salary so I'm trying to get more educated numbers on what I'll realistically need after the high taxes take a chunk out of my take home. Thanks,

Answer 1

If you want to be near the beach, you need to look in the eastern suburbs. Close to nightlife you should be looking at elizabeth bay, potts point, kings cross (which can be seedy - potts point and elizabeth bay are better). Popular places to live with expats are bondi beach (obvious reasons), coogee is also nice but further. Bondi beach is a real hassle to get to from the city and vv because it's only buses and it's about a 40 minute ride. If you stay in randwick, you'll be close to the city and still close to the beach althoug you'd probably prefer to have a car. Eastern suburbs is all serviced by buses not trains unless you live in edgecliff, or bondi beach. In terms of rent, you seriously need to do a search cause it really varies. I personally really enjoy the potts point elizabeth bay vibe. You can get some gorgeous apartments there with views of the harbour, step downstairs to lots of cute little cafes for a lazy weekend brunch, there are grocery stores fairly closeby and train stations. However the beach takes more getting to. If you're renting, you don't pay water or sewage, that's covered by the owner of the apartment. You will need to pay any gas and electricity bills. Gas is fairly cheap if it's only for cooking, if you're using it for heating it's pricier. Just for cooking, you're probably looking at around 150 per year. Electricity really depends on the type of person you are but I would put aside around 350 per quarter. Phone is another thing and obviously it depends on your usage. One thing to keep in mind when you search is that we don't tend to have built in heating and lots of places don't have air con either. It does get really hot in summer though so beware of that and ýou probably don't want a west facing apartment cause it'll get that disgusting afternoon sun that will suffocate you in summer. Heating - go and buy yourself a column heater from kmart for the winter if your place doesn't have any. Doesn't usually get that cold in winter though. If you don't need it, don't get that second bedroom cause it bumps the price up a bit. If you're looking for furnished it will also bump price up further. I don't know if you're short or long term but if it's short term you won't want to buy furniture etc so you might try searching for executive rentals. Domain.com is probably the premier real estate site for sydney. You might also want to try realestate.com Cheers!

In reply to your email:

Hey there!

Happy to help.

If you're on 100k (aud) you will be pretty much in the highest tax bracket amongst the highest earners in Australia. You will be able to live extremely comfortably and still have money to spare.

You will be able to live in the best areas in a nice apartment with a car... etc etc etc. I wouldn't be worrying, 100k is so much more than most earn.

Answer 2

You are not going to find a two beddy in a "nice" area of Sydney for $300 a week, unless it is a complete dump. Consider $400 upwards.

Too many people just want to live in the cool areas, which kind of makes the place uncool. Searching for parking is uncool.

Answer 3

You can get a basic small place for around $350-400 to rent. Its impossible to list all of the prices of food in the supermarkets but i usually spend around $70 and that gets me enough food for a week or 2. Obviously you need to buy bread ($2.50-3.00) and milk ($3.00) every few days but otherwise food isnt too expensive.
The biggest expense for me is probably fuel for my car. Petrol is very expensive so try and either get a really small car or use public transport. There is loads of public transport running all of the time around Sydney.

Answer 4

$500 gets you a small a million mattress room house around the city/ jap suburbs. jap suburbs are the final section- on the fringe of seashores. relies upon the place you're working. in simple terms go searching at places once you're there. You dont say your nationality which might make a difference; english human beings stay around the east. Manly is beneficial, small, beachy and a ferry journey to the city. North shore is greater decrease priced.

Answer 5

foods cheap...rents for a 2 bed er ,say from 300 up...up.. still its cheaper than europe or japan...sydneys city area more expensive..besta luck.electricity.150 for 3 months