City guide
🇦🇺 Living in Sydney
Australia's largest city, with a high quality of life, strong professional salaries, a sunny coastal lifestyle, and moderate income tax
Not sure Sydney is your city? Take the 2-minute quiz →At a glance
Net salary calculator
Calculate your take-home pay in Sydney with our detailed tax calculator.
Net salary in Australia →Cost of living
| Rent (1-bed, center) | €2,126/mo |
| Rent (1-bed, outside centre) | €1,462/mo |
| Groceries (single) | €365/mo |
| Groceries (family) | €910/mo |
| Transport pass | €132/mo |
| Restaurant (2 people, mid-range) | €79 |
| Coffee | €3.00 |
| Gym membership | €63/mo |
| Healthcare | Australia has public healthcare (Medicare), funded partly by a 2 percent Medicare levy. Access depends on visa and reciprocal agreements: France has no reciprocal agreement with Australia, so French temporary-visa holders are not covered by Medicare and must hold private health insurance, usually as a visa condition. Permanent residents gain Medicare access, and higher earners without private hospital cover also pay a Medicare Levy Surcharge |
Budget calculator
Build a detailed monthly budget for Sydney based on your lifestyle.
Build your budget →Why choose Sydney?
Moderate income tax for a high-income country: an effective rate around 23 to 28 percent for a typical expat, with no employee social contributions beyond the Medicare levy
A high quality of life: beaches, harbour, parks, and a mild, sunny climate
Strong professional salaries, especially in finance, tech, and professional services
English-speaking, safe, and politically stable
Public healthcare (Medicare) for residents, though access depends on visa and reciprocal agreements
A clear skilled-migration system with routes to permanent residence
Quality of life
Moving to Sydney : checklist
- 1Secure a skilled visa: the main temporary route is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482, employer-sponsored); permanent routes include employer nomination (186) and points-tested skilled visas (189 or 190). There is no digital-nomad visa
- 2Arrange private health insurance before arrival: France has no reciprocal Medicare agreement with Australia, so French temporary-visa holders are not covered by Medicare and private cover is usually a visa condition
- 3Understand the tax: a flat 2 percent Medicare levy funds public healthcare on top of progressive income tax, and there is no state income tax
- 4Budget for rent: a one-bedroom in the city averages around 2,130 euros per month, less in the suburbs
- 5Get an Opal card for trains, buses, and ferries; fares are pay-as-you-go with a weekly cap rather than a monthly pass
- 6Open an Australian bank account and apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) to work
- 7Note that Sydney is far from Europe: long flights and a large time difference shape ties back home
Frequently asked questions
How much tax will I pay in Sydney?+
What visa do I need to work in Sydney?+
Does a French expat get Medicare in Australia?+
How expensive is Sydney?+
Is English enough in Sydney?+
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These figures are indicative and based on public datasets. They are not tax advice. Consult a licensed tax advisor or financial professional before making relocation or employment decisions.
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