Cost of living in Australia - 2017

This info is based on my personal experience living in Sydney outskirts, approx 45 mins from city.

Rental prices vary according to Area but in the 3 years we have been here it has increased greatly, rental prices can be anywhere from approx $800.00 to $2000.00 a week for a standard 3 bedroom.

We find the train service fantastic, have only ever had one late train, and a few track work occasions but they provided buses in lieu of, price from North Sydney e.g. Hornsby to Central one way approx. $5.00 peak $3.37 off peak
Buses are more likely to be late, both networks run on an Opal card which you can have an automatic top up set up so that your card never runs out of credit. You just tap your card to get on and off and it automatically deducts the amount on completion of travel.

Loaves of bread can vary between 0.70c to the branded products of $4.00 a loaf.
Milk approximately $4.00 per 2L
For my family of 4 made up of 2 adults and 2 teens we spend approximately $200.00 per week on groceries which we could do cheaper but we like some 'treat' food.

With a Medicare card we have yet to pay for a doctors visit but things like X-rays etc you do need to pay for. All prescriptions we pay for but I find the price not to bad.

Public school fees vary, for Year 8 student the years fees are approx. $700.00 but you need to add to that stationary, any extra uniforms and some excursions or camp fees that may occur.

Petrol for my car is approx $30.00 a week but I'm not having to travel as far as a lot of people to get to work.

We average $200.00 a month for electricity

Landline Phone and Internet is $75.00 a month for unlimited data and use of landline but all calls are extra.

My mobile plan is Optus, $30.00 every 28 days for 500mb, unlimited texts to Optus users, unlimited calls to Optus users, 250 mins to call standard Australian numbers, voicemail and 23 selected countries while in Australia and unlimited data for use on FB, Twitter, My Space, LinkedIn,eBay and Foursquare, and $30.00 credit to use for other.

Coffee or hot chocolates range around $4.00 mark depending where you buy from

Movie tickets adult approx $20.00 Student $16.50 Child $15.00 but some mobile companies and movie cinemas offer reduced priced tickets for members.

Temperatures can range from too damn hot to bloody cold, in this past month we have had 40*c days down to 18*c  with an occasional hail storm for good measure.

Sydney in particular can have extreme traffic congestion, better to travel outside of peak hours or use the train.

I have been here for nearly 3 years and love it but would happily move back to Asia as we miss the food and the cheap cost of living there. Could not see myself returning to NZ as I find it now too small after living in big cities elsewhere and have heard recently that the cost of living there has risen as well and become quite expensive.

Hope this info is helpful to anyone looking at relocating to Sydney.

Very detailed and helpful analysis.....
Thanks

Rent is $350 to $450 or more per week for 2 to 3 bedrooms.

Petrol is $20 to $30 per week if everyday travel is not that far.

Internet and landline $100 per month

Mobile unlimited calls plus sufficient internet data $70 per month

Electricity ranging from $250 and up and  $480 and up during summer because of aircon.

Food you can buy a $10 meal. McDonald's good for 4 is $20.
Sugar around $2
Oil $5
You can buy chicken $5 to $10
Minced pork for $6 or $12 for a kilo. It depends if premium or not.
You can buy a beef for $10 to $20.

Actually you can budget your meat for the week for $50 to $80

But once you started getting your ingredients, chocolates, biscuits, chips. They don't cost much but you'll end up having a higher grocery cost.

It really depends on how you budget .

> How much does it cost to rent an apartment/house in Australia? 
My small room in a share house was 100AUD a week

> How much do you pay for your public transport tickets (bus, subway, train, tram)?
a month's myki in Melbourne is 43AUD

> Staple food: what do people eat and how much do they pay for basic food like bread, rice or pasta?
Eating out is very cheap with a rice or noodle dish only 10AUD, so that's a good option.

>What is your monthly grocery budget?
We spent around 100AUD a week for a couple

> How much does it cost to see a physician/doctor/specialist in Australia ? 
Initial consultation will be around 60AUD and follow ups will be more.

I have written a guide to surviving in Oz on the working holiday visa that may be of use:
[link moderated]

Lockyer Valley, QLD

> How much does it cost to rent an apartment/house in Australia?  4 Bed 2 bath House $300pw
> What is your monthly grocery budget?  $600 for 2 people
> How much does it cost to see a physician/doctor/specialist in Australia ?  Nothing.  All Free on Medicare.  $60 for non resident to visit a doctor.
> How much does it cost to fill up your car’s fuel tank? $1.30 per litre.   It varies on each fill.
> How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc.?  $400 pq Elec, $150 pq gas, $270 pq Water
> How much do you pay for your Internet/phone subscription?  $89pm Internet and Phone, inc calls

> Staple food: what do people eat and how much do they pay for basic food like bread, rice or pasta?

Bread $1.00 per sliced white loaf
Milk $2.00 for 2 litres
Cheese $6.00 per kg for basic cheese $20 per kg for the good stuff
Chicken Breast $7.00 per kg
Pepsi Cola $1.10 for 1.25 litres
Hot Chicken (whole) $8.00

For Food - do check out these websites  - Coles , Woolworths and Aldi . These are your major hypermarket stores all around Australia and would give you a good indication on what you would need to spend per week.
There are weekend markets available - Sydney Market and Local Asian, Muslim, Indian etc grocery stores which pretty much sells everything that you are familiar with in your native country.

Rent - check Domain.com.au / realestate.com.au to give you an idea of rent. Be prepared for the rent to go up AUD10 per week ( at minimum ) every year. The closer you are to a train station, expect to pay a higher rent compared to somewhere there is less public transport. If you dont plan to get a car , then staying closer to a train station makes sense. If you need to get any medical assistance at night ( since you dont have a car ) there is always after hours GP. Its basically up to your personal luck if the GP ( general practice ) doctor is available and come immediately or after a few hours.

If you are not a PR , consider taking private insurance . This can be anywhere from 100 to 400 per month. Google for private health care in Australia. You can call them for a better rate.

You would also need to pay premium school fees ( even public school ) if you are not a PR.

All the best to anyone that is going make a move and God Speed .

Thank you so much dear.dear fot the information.

Hi everyone I moved in Australia to stay a year or maybe 2 and the first thing I've done it's was to compare French prices and Australian prices.
It's incomparable since the pay is higher  than France.
> How much does it cost to rent an apartment/house in Australia? 
I don't know since I'm an au pair

> How much do you pay for your public transport tickets (bus, subway, train, tram)?
I have a car that I can use and the family fill the tank if needed

> Staple food: what do people eat and how much do they pay for basic food like bread, rice or pasta?
I make my own pasta or buy barilla in a big amount when it's available 2.80/kg in Coles 3.20/kg
I eat French bread in a French bakery it's 3$
>What is your monthly grocery budget? 50$ I eat vegetables of the garden, I buy water bread (or things to make bread flour or semolina)

> How much does it cost to see a physician/doctor/specialist in Australia ? 
I haven't saw one yet

> What is your children's schooling monthly budget?  None

> How much does it cost to fill up your car’s fuel tank? It's not me who fill it but it's around 1.28$/ l

> How much do you pay for electricity/gas/water etc.? None

> How much do you pay for your Internet/phone subscription? I don't have one and I use internet at house

> How much do you pay for your lunch pack on weekdays?  I eat a carrot a boiled egg and bread and 50'll water so ~2$ max

> How much do you pay for an espresso coffee?  I don't drink coffee

> How much do you pay for a cinema ticket? I don't go to cinema

> How much does a gym membership cost in Australia?   I don't go to the gym I prefer walking

I just did some shopping at the butcher

4 kg Chicken Breast Fillets at $6.99 p kg
3 kg Chicken Maryland at $1.99 p kg
3 kg Chicken Drumsticks at $1.99 p kg
3 Kg Turkey Legs at $1.99 p kg

4kg T-Bone Steaks at $11.99 p kg
5kg Whole Beef Rump at $9.99 p kg

The supermarket would have cost me 2 or 3 times what I paid today.  You need to find the local butcher who has regular specials.

It really pays to shop around if you can.
I saw Red Seedless Australian Grapes, for $4.90 kg at the supermarket, but exactly the same for $1.99 kg at the local fruit market.

However, that same supermarket had Whole Beef Rump on special at $8.00 p kg.  ($2 kg less than I paid the other day)