What It Actually Costs to Move from the US to Australia

A full USD cost breakdown for Americans moving to Australia — visa fees by pathway, shipping, flights, first-month rent, and the ongoing US tax bill nobody else has to pay. Totals for a single person, a couple, and a family of four. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 Moving solo from the US:
  2. 0:15 Visa fees range from
  3. 0:48 Paperwork before you fly:
  4. 1:11 Flights: $600–$1,500 West Coast
  5. 1:24 Don't ship:
  6. 1:41 Full container:
  7. 1:52 First bond + rent:
  8. 2:11 Ongoing US-only cost:
  9. 2:21 Renouncing citizenship:
  10. 2:33 $50,000 transfer:
  11. 2:49 Total: $9,850 solo
  12. 3:05 The lean-move floor:
  13. 3:18 Where to read more

Transcript

Moving solo from the US to Australia costs somewhere between $9,850 and $31,500, all in — visa fees are the smallest part of it.

Visa fees vary hugely. The National Innovation visa, subclass 858, runs about $4,030. Employer Sponsored, subclass 482, costs about $2,600. Skilled Independent, subclass 189, is about $3,970. Partner, subclass 820 and 801, is the most expensive at about $7,600. Student, subclass 500, is cheapest upfront at $1,640 before tuition.

Before you even book a flight: a skills assessment runs $300 to $1,200. An English test, $250 to $310. A medical exam, $300 to $500. And the FBI background check itself is just $18 — though the approved vendor adds another $30 to $50 in processing.

A one-way flight from the US West Coast runs $600 to $1,500. From the East Coast, $800 to $2,000 — most routes connect through LA or Dallas.

Skip US electrical appliances — Australia runs on 240V, yours run on 120V. Skip furniture — it's usually cheaper to replace. And skip your car: left-hand drive compliance can cost AUD 5,000 to 15,000 or more.

Shipping a full 20-foot container from the West Coast runs $5,000 to $12,000 door to door — more from the East Coast, at $7,000 to $15,000.

Your first bond and advance rent: $2,400 to $4,200 in Sydney, $1,800 to $3,200 in Melbourne, $1,600 to $2,800 in Brisbane, $1,500 to $2,600 in Perth.

Americans abroad face a cost nobody else does: annual expat tax preparation, running $500 to $2,000 a year, indefinitely.

Some long-term expats consider renouncing US citizenship to end the annual filing. The renunciation fee alone is $2,350, plus any exit tax.

On a $50,000 transfer, a bank's hidden exchange margin can cost $500 to $1,500. A specialist service charges just $5 to $20 and can save you $300 to $1,000 on the same amount.

All in, a single person budgets $9,850 to $31,500. A couple, $15,000 to $46,300. A family of four, $20,000 to $65,000.

The biggest lever is shipping. Sell furniture and appliances, fly with extra luggage instead, and choose a city outside Sydney — and a lean move can cost as little as $12,000 to $15,000.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description.

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