How much money do you need to move to Australia? A practical budget for 2026

Pre-departure costs you cannot avoid

Before you leave your home country, several costs are already locked in.

The visa application charge depends entirely on which visa you are applying for. A student visa costs AUD 710. A skilled independent visa (189/190) costs AUD 4,640 for the primary applicant. A partner visa costs AUD 9,095. An employer-sponsored 482 visa costs AUD 1,455–2,645 depending on the stream. These are non-refundable and payable before your application is assessed. See the full cost of moving to Australia guide for a breakdown by visa type.

Skills assessments, health examinations, police clearances, and English language tests add AUD 1,500–3,500 per applicant depending on the visa type and your occupation. Not all visa types require all of these, but skilled visa applicants typically face the full set.

Migration agent fees, if you choose to use one, range from AUD 3,000 to AUD 10,000 depending on the visa complexity. This is optional but common.

Flights to Australia depend on your departure point. Budget AUD 500–2,500 per person for a one-way economy fare from most major departure countries. Families should multiply accordingly.

The first two weeks: where the money goes fast

The period between landing at the airport and settling into your first rental is where costs accelerate. You are typically paying for temporary accommodation, eating out more than you would normally, and making purchases that you only make once.

Temporary accommodation — hostels, Airbnb, serviced apartments — costs AUD 80–250 per night depending on the city and the type of accommodation. Most migrants spend one to three weeks in temporary accommodation while searching for a rental. Budget AUD 1,000–5,000 for this period.

A rental bond is typically four weeks' rent, payable upfront. In Sydney, a one-bedroom apartment in the inner suburbs rents for approximately AUD 500–700 per week, making the bond AUD 2,000–2,800. In Melbourne, AUD 400–600 per week means a bond of AUD 1,600–2,400. In Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide, AUD 350–500 per week means AUD 1,400–2,000.

Two weeks' rent in advance is standard alongside the bond. Add this to the bond and you are looking at six weeks' rent upfront before you spend a single night in your new home.

Initial household setup costs cover items you cannot or did not bring — bedding, kitchenware, a few pieces of furniture if the rental is unfurnished, cleaning supplies, and basic electronics. Furnished rentals reduce this significantly. Budget AUD 500–2,000 depending on what you need.

A SIM card and mobile plan costs AUD 20–50 to get started. Internet connection for your rental costs AUD 60–90 per month, with connection taking a few days to a week.

Monthly living costs by city

Once you are settled, ongoing costs follow a fairly predictable pattern.

Rent is the dominant monthly expense. Weekly rents for a two-bedroom apartment as of 2025–2026 are approximately AUD 650–850 in inner Sydney, AUD 500–700 in inner Melbourne, AUD 450–600 in Brisbane, AUD 400–550 in Perth, and AUD 380–500 in Adelaide. Regional areas are generally 20–40% cheaper.

Groceries for a single person cost approximately AUD 400–600 per month. A couple should budget AUD 600–900, and a family of four AUD 1,000–1,500. These figures assume cooking at home most days, with occasional dining out. Australian food prices have risen in recent years, and fresh produce, dairy, and meat are more expensive than in most Asian countries.

Public transport costs AUD 150–200 per month for a daily commuter in most capital cities. Sydney's Opal system and Melbourne's myki both offer weekly caps. If you need a car, registration (AUD 300–800 per year), insurance (AUD 800–2,000 per year), fuel (AUD 200–350 per month), and the car itself (AUD 5,000–15,000 for a reliable used vehicle) add significantly.

Utilities — electricity, gas, and water — run approximately AUD 200–350 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. Gas is not available in all areas, and some apartments include water in the strata fees.

Health insurance costs depend on your visa status. Student visa holders pay AUD 500–700 per year for OSHC. Temporary visa holders pay AUD 800–1,500 per year for OVHC. Permanent residents can use Medicare (free enrolment, 2% levy through tax) but may also want private health insurance to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge if their income exceeds AUD 93,000.

The employment gap: your biggest variable

The single biggest financial variable is how long it takes to find employment after arrival. If you arrive with a job already arranged, your financial buffer only needs to cover the gap between arrival and your first pay cycle — typically two to four weeks. If you arrive without employment, the job search can take anywhere from two weeks to three months or more, depending on your occupation, experience, and the local job market.

For skilled migrants in high-demand occupations (IT, engineering, healthcare, accounting), the job search in major cities is typically shorter. For migrants in occupations with less demand, or those who need to re-qualify or gain local experience, the timeline stretches.

The practical advice from settlement agencies and experienced migrants is consistent: have enough savings to cover at least three months of living expenses without income. This provides a comfortable runway for job searching, settling in, and handling unexpected costs.

For a single person in Melbourne, three months of living expenses (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, incidentals) totals approximately AUD 8,000–12,000. For a couple, AUD 12,000–18,000. For a family of four, AUD 18,000–25,000.

Costs specific to families with children

Families face additional costs that single migrants and couples do not.

Childcare is one of the most expensive items. Full-time childcare (five days per week) in a long day care centre costs approximately AUD 100–180 per day in major cities. The government's Child Care Subsidy reduces this cost significantly for eligible families — but new migrants may face a waiting period before the subsidy kicks in, depending on visa status and activity test requirements.

Public schooling is free for permanent residents and citizens, but temporary visa holders typically pay tuition fees at government schools — ranging from AUD 5,000 to AUD 12,000 per year depending on the state and year level. Private schools charge substantially more, typically AUD 10,000–30,000 per year.

School uniforms, textbooks, and supplies add AUD 300–800 per child per year in public schools.

Additional food and living costs for children are factored into the family grocery and utility estimates above, but activities, sports, and social expenses add further.

Budget scenarios

Here are three worked scenarios to anchor your planning.

Single skilled worker, subclass 189, arriving from India, settling in Melbourne, no job arranged:
Pre-departure costs (visa AUD 4,640, skills assessment AUD 550, health/police AUD 400, English test AUD 400, flights AUD 900) = AUD 6,890. Settlement costs (two weeks temporary accommodation AUD 1,400, bond and rent advance AUD 3,600, household setup AUD 800, phone and internet AUD 150) = AUD 5,950. Three months living expenses (rent AUD 6,000, groceries AUD 1,500, transport AUD 500, utilities AUD 700, incidentals AUD 600) = AUD 9,300. Total: approximately AUD 22,140.

Couple, subclass 190, arriving from the UK, settling in Brisbane, one partner has a job offer:
Pre-departure costs (visa AUD 6,960, skills assessment AUD 800, health/police AUD 700, agent AUD 4,000, flights AUD 3,000) = AUD 15,460. Settlement costs (one week temporary accommodation AUD 1,400, bond and rent advance AUD 3,600, household setup AUD 1,200, phone and internet AUD 200) = AUD 6,400. Two months living expenses for the non-working partner's job search (rent AUD 3,600, groceries AUD 1,600, transport AUD 400, utilities AUD 500, incidentals AUD 500) = AUD 6,600. Total: approximately AUD 28,460.

Family of four, subclass 482, arriving from the Philippines, settling in Perth, employer-sponsored:
Pre-departure costs (visa AUD 4,100, health/police AUD 800, flights AUD 3,200) = AUD 8,100. Settlement costs (two weeks temporary accommodation AUD 3,500, bond and rent advance AUD 4,000, household setup AUD 1,500, phone and internet AUD 200, car purchase and registration AUD 8,000) = AUD 17,200. One month living expenses before first pay (rent AUD 2,000, groceries AUD 1,200, transport/fuel AUD 300, utilities AUD 300, school costs AUD 500, incidentals AUD 400) = AUD 4,700. OVHC for the family (first year) AUD 3,000. Total: approximately AUD 33,000.

Building a financial buffer

Beyond the specific costs, every budget should include a buffer for unexpected expenses. Things that routinely surprise new migrants include higher-than-expected grocery costs (particularly fresh produce and dairy), utility bills that spike in summer (air conditioning) or winter (heating), medical costs for items not covered by OSHC, OVHC, or Medicare (dental, optical, specialist gap fees), and the cost of re-qualifying or gaining local accreditation if professional qualifications are not automatically recognised.

A buffer of AUD 2,000–5,000 on top of the calculated budget provides breathing room. Running out of money in the first month creates stress that undermines the entire settlement process — it is better to bring slightly more than you think you need.

How to get the money to Australia

The method you use to transfer your savings to Australia affects how much arrives. A bank wire with a 3% exchange rate markup on AUD 30,000 costs you AUD 900 in hidden fees compared to a service offering the mid-market rate. Over larger amounts, the difference grows proportionally.

Opening an Australian bank account before arrival (through CBA or NAB pre-arrival programs) lets you transfer funds in advance. For a comparison of transfer costs by provider and corridor, see the guide on transferring money to Australia.

Can I move to Australia with less than AUD 10,000?

It is technically possible if you have a job arranged, a place to stay (such as with a partner or family member already in Australia), and your visa is already granted. But it leaves no margin for error. Any unexpected cost — a delayed first pay, an unforeseen bond requirement, a medical expense — could create an immediate crisis.

Are the costs lower in regional areas?

Yes, generally. Rent, groceries, and services tend to be 20–40% cheaper in regional centres compared to Sydney or Melbourne. However, regional areas may have fewer job opportunities and less public transport, potentially requiring a car, which adds its own costs.

Should I bring my savings in cash or transfer electronically?

Transfer electronically. It is safer, cheaper with a good provider, and does not trigger the physical cash declaration requirement. If you bring AUD 10,000 or more in physical currency, you must declare it to the Australian Border Force. There is no limit on electronic transfers.

How quickly can I start earning money after arrival?

This depends on your visa type and work rights. Permanent residents can work immediately with no restrictions. Temporary visa holders (482, student) can work within their visa conditions from the day of arrival if they have a job. The gap between arrival and first pay is typically two to four weeks for employed migrants.

Do I need to budget for tax when I arrive?

Your employer withholds tax from each pay cycle (PAYG withholding), so your take-home pay already accounts for income tax. However, applying for a TFN within 28 days is essential — without one, your employer withholds at the highest rate (45% plus Medicare levy). File a tax return at the end of the financial year (July–June) to reconcile what was withheld against what you actually owe.