Living in Australia: cost of living, rents and the salary you need

Updated 2 October 2026

How much do you need to earn to live in Australia? Here are rents in the main cities, the minimum wage, healthcare, residence permits and moving costs, with the official source of every figure. For your own case, the calculator starts from your real budget, in your city, and moves it to Australia.

Work out my budget in Australia

Example: the same life, elsewhere

A single person living in London in a one-bedroom home, with the average spending of a similar household, spends about £3,350 a month. To keep the same life in Sydney, they would need about $5,080 (≈ €3,120) net a month locally (−21%), i.e. 1.3 times the National Minimum Wage.

For a couple with two children in a two-bedroom home (state school), it would take about $9,450 (≈ €5,800) net a month in Sydney, i.e. 2.5 times the National Minimum Wage.

Calculated on 2 October 2026 with the official averages of London and the destination’s prices. Yours depends on your city, home and habits: the calculator works it out in a few minutes, no sign-up.

Rents in Australia

City	Studio	1 bedroom	2 bedrooms	3-bedroom house	1 bedroom in euros
Sydney	$2,400	$3,050	$3,490	$3,270	€1,870
Melbourne	$2,220	$2,220	$2,660	$2,440	€1,360
Brisbane	$2,510	$2,510	$3,060	$3,150	€1,540
Perth	$2,640	$2,640	$3,050	$3,190	€1,620
Adelaide	$2,070	$2,070	$2,280	$2,710	€1,270
Gold Coast	$2,800	$2,800	$3,500	$3,940	€1,720
Newcastle	$1,880	$1,880	$2,490	$2,920	€1,150
Wollongong	$2,050	$2,050	$2,620	$3,270	€1,260
Hobart	$1,740	$1,740	$2,260	$2,690	€1,070
Sunshine Coast	$2,190	$2,190	$2,950	$3,320	€1,340
Geelong	$1,510	$1,510	$1,930	$2,220	€920

Monthly rent in AUD, outside the most sought-after areas. Studio 28 m², 1 bedroom 45 m², 2 bedrooms 65 m², house 95 m² where rent is known per m². Rental bonds for new leases, published by each state: NSW (DCJ, April-June 2026), Victoria (DFFH, July-September 2025), Queensland (RTA, April-June 2026), South Australia (April-June 2026), Western Australia and Tasmania (leases from June to August 2026), updated with the ABS rent index (July 2026).

Wages

The National Minimum Wage is $3,770 (≈ €2,310) net a month ($4,350 gross).

Average wage: $108,000 (≈ €66,500) gross a year.

Healthcare

With a temporary visa, visitors’ health insurance is compulsory. Citizens of a country with a health care agreement (UK, Ireland, New Zealand…) may get Medicare.

In the example above: your country has a health care agreement with Australia: Medicare covers you, nothing more to pay.

Visa and residence permit

You need an employer to sponsor you for the Skills in Demand visa (482). New Zealanders need no visa.

Cost: $4,020 (≈ €2,460) per person ($1,010 per child).

Skills in Demand work visa (482).

There is no visa to live on income from abroad: you need a local job, unless your nationality is exempt.

Moving in and everyday life

Deposit: 4 weeks’ rent
Agency fees: No fees for the tenant
School: Free state school
Electricity: $0.40 to $0.58 per kWh depending on the region
Home cleaning: $30 an hour

Frequently asked questions

What salary do you need to live in Sydney?

For a single person keeping the same life as in London: about $5,080 (≈ €3,120) net a month, i.e. 1.3 times the National Minimum Wage.

How much is rent in Sydney?

About $3,050 (≈ €1,870) a month for a one-bedroom home and $3,490 for a two-bedroom home, according to Rental bonds for new leases, published by each state.

Do you need a residence permit to live in Australia?

You need an employer to sponsor you for the Skills in Demand visa (482). New Zealanders need no visa. Cost: $4,020 (≈ €2,460) per person ($1,010 per child).