Are you planning on moving to Australia? Well, let us be the first to say welcome! You’re going to love it here, and we’re going to love having you!

If you’ve been wondering what it’s like to live or study in Australia, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re going to share some of the details of Australian life that you’ll find most helpful during your move – and no, we’re not going to tell you about kangaroos and poisonous snakes and all of the other things your family will inevitably ask you about when you visit home. Instead, we’ll cover useful things like the cost of living in some of the major cities in Australia so that you can find the best place to live in Australia.

Let’s start with Sydney

This is an expat heaven with a good amount of job opportunities, plenty of gorgeous beaches, and no shortage of fun activities happening all year long. As Australia’s most populated city, Sydney is home to over 4.6 million people and over 650 separate suburbs to choose from.

In terms of living styles, Sydney’s got something for everyone. There are music, culture, wine and beer festivals happening all the time, and of course, everyone loves the easy access to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. 

You’ll mostly find apartment living in Sydney, unless you’re willing to step out of the city circle and look at the suburbs. 

The cost of living here is one of the highest in the nation (we’re just going to rip the band-aid off first, right?) In the inner suburbs, renting a one bedroom apartment can range between $2,000 and $3,200 per month (all money here is in AUD). In the outer suburbs, you’ll likely find the same sized apartment for about $1,400 to $2,400.

As far as parking costs go, with Spacer, you can expect to pay an average of $408 per month for parking. 

Moving onto Melbourne

Most agree that Melbourne is the cultural centre of Australia. Although the population here is over 4.9 million and there are over 320 suburbs, the living style here is relaxed. Of course, you will still find yourself in a big, bustling city with plenty to do and see. In fact, Melbourne often makes the charts for the world’s happiest cities and the world’s most liveable cities, so you should definitely keep it in mind.

Similar to Sydney, Melbourne has plenty of high-rise apartment living if you find yourself in the city centre. But, you don’t have to travel far to get the more traditional houses and smaller apartment complexes of the outer suburbs.

In terms of living costs, you’re looking at a much more reasonable city than Sydney. Rent for a one bedroom apartment in the city centre will likely range between $1,500 and $2,400 per month. That range drops down to $1,200 to $1,955 if you move outside of the city centre.

The average cost of parking through Spacer is $338. 

You might have heard good things about Brisbane!

And the hype is real! People living in Brisbane say they love the spaciousness of the city and the relaxed attitude of its people. Brisbane has a much smaller city centre than the other cities on this list (only 2.2 million), so you’ll find more smaller apartment complexes and houses for rent than apartments in sky rises. 

The cost of living in Brisbane is also quite reasonable. A one bedroom apartment in the city centre will probably cost somewhere between $1,250 and $2,000 per month, or as low as $1,000 to $1,500 if you’re willing to move to the outer suburbs.

And, you can easily find parking with Spacer in Brisbane for the same price as Melbourne – about $338 per month. 

Don’t forget Canberra!

Of course, you won’t! Canberra is Australia’s capital city, and there’s a lot to like about this metropolis. First of all, it’s generally cheaper than the other cities on this list, but there’s also a great foodie scene, it’s got a lively nightlife, and the population is full of young professionals. In fact, if you’re looking for the best place to study in Australia, you should definitely think about Canberra.

One of the things that may put off some people about Canberra is that it will take about 2 and a half hours to get to the nearest sandy beach. But, this city is also just a 40 minute drive to some incredible nature reserves and great hiking. 

When it comes to the living costs, rent in the middle of the city for a one bedroom apartment will range from $1250 to $2000. If you’re willing to go outside of the city centre, you could pay as low as $1000 a month. 

Canberra is an ever-growing city with more sky rises everyday. That said, this is still a city of only about 450,000 people and you’ll still be more likely to find low-rise apartments or houses in Canberra. Like with the other cities on the list, the farther you go from the city centre, the more likely you’ll be to find houses in residential neighbourhoods instead of high-rise apartment living. 

And parking? Well, with Spacer, you can find monthly spots for an average of $275. There are even some spaces available for just $129 per month. 

There are plenty of other cities to explore!

Whether you’re looking for cities in Australia that will bring you closer to nature or you’re trying to find the best place to live for students or young professionals, you have a lot of options. With a little bit of curiosity and research, you’ll be able to find the best city in Australia with just the living style you’re looking for!