If you're thinking about moving to Sydney, you've made a good choice. From its world-famous beaches to its thriving job market, Sydney is the dream for many. However, Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in Australia to live in. So, before you move to the NSW capital, it’s important to understand the full cost of living in Sydney. From property prices to transport costs, take this as your guide to understanding how to budget for your relocation to Australia's iconic harbour city.
Average House Prices Sydney (2025)
| Region of Sydney | Median House Prices September 2024 | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| South West | $1,113,500 | 11.4% |
| Inner South West | $1,561,000 | 10.7% |
| Outer West and Blue Mountains | $955,000 | 9.8% |
| Parramatta | $1,350,000 | 8.5% |
| Blacktown | $1,082,000 | 8.2% |
| Outer South West | $945,000 | 7.9% |
| Northern Beaches | $2,665,000 | 6.6% |
| Inner West | $2,450,000 | 6.5% |
| Central Coast | $920,000 | 6.4% |
| Sutherland | $1,700,000 | 6.3% |
| Ryde | $2,420,000 | 5.2% |
| Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury | $1,833,500 | 3% |
| North Sydney and Hornsby | $2,975,000 | 2.6% |
| City and Inner South | $1,947,500 | 1.4% |
| Eastern Suburbs | $3,630,500 | 1.4% |
| Source: Domain House Price Report, Sydney 2024 | ||
The property market in Sydney has been one of the most challenging parts for those looking to reside there. Areas like the Eastern Suburbs and North Sydney have high prices because of their popularity and premier lifestyle close to beaches. However, you can still find more affordable options in Western and South West.
As property prices rose over the last years, the idea of buying in Sydney became a far away dream for most until late 2024. Sydney housing prices finally began to decrease ever so slightly with the median house price falling from $1.65 million to $1.48 million (Domain) (maybe don’t start counting out your pennies just yet). 2025 was also set to continue seeing a steady decline, with some even believing that Sydney housing prices could fall by 5% in 2025, making it a great time for buyers (AFR).
Sydney Rental Prices in 2025
Just like Sydney’s house prices, the rental market is also pretty competitive.
- Average weekly rent for houses: $1,037.88 (SQM).
- Average weekly rent for units/apartments: $688.21 (SQM).
Of course, this is just an average across all Sydney suburbs, so costs can vary significantly. The most prestigious areas or beachside suburbs like Bondi, Coogee, and Manly are higher than western Sydney suburbs.
Average Monthly Bills and Utilities in Sydney
Bills and utilities and are also important thing to consider when budgeting your living cost in Sydney. Thankfully after spending all that money getting somewhere to live, household bills are not so scary! In fact, Sydney is even cheaper than other East Coast cities when it comes to water prices and gas.
On average, a household of 4 in Sydney will spend about $273 a month on basic utilities (gas, water and electricity).
You'll need to also factor in extras like phone or internet bills. And if you're the kind of family who likes to each take 30 minute showers with the air conditioning on all day, then you may find that your utilities are a bit more expensive.
How Much Does a Removalist Cost in Sydney?
If you’re looking to move within the city, then you’ll need the help of professional removalists Sydney to get you started. They'll take care of your house move, navigating Sydney's cityscape safely. So, how much do removalists cost? In Sydney, removalist prices typically cost:
- From $180/hr to $270/hr depending on the number of movers and truck size
- Packing and wrapping extras: around $160/hr
There are many factors that will affect this cost, like the time of year, amount to be moved, accessibility, and more.
Average Transport Costs in Sydney
Whether you’re travelling by car or public transport, transport is one of the biggest contributors of the cost of living in Sydney. According to the Australian Automobile Association, households in Sydney spend:
- 486 a week, or nearly $25,300 a year to get around.
- This takes up 15.5% of the average income.
If you’re looking to travel in and around the city for work, then your best option is to go by public transport, as traffic and congestion can be relatively bad, particularly in peak hours and no one wants to be sat in traffic for 45 minutes whilst you wait for the road to clear. There are also often regularly scheduled buses that run during peak hours that will take you directly into the city or if you are living outside of these areas trams and trains also connect most of Sydney.
Cost of travelling by Public Transport
If you're travelling by public transport, the cost of travel depends on:
- Mode of transport
- Time of day
- Distance travelled.
For instance, an average train fare from Parramatta to Central will cost $6 during peak hours and $4.20 during off-peak times.
Meanwhile average train fares from Cronulla to Town Hall costs $8.03 during peak times and $5.62 during off-peak. (Transport NSW)
There's only a small difference in cost between trains, trams and buses. The only public transport that usually costs a lot more is travelling by ferry. Despite its efficiency and gaining points for travelling in style, it is definitely not a cost-effective method if you're looking to save money.
Is it cheaper to use an Opal or debit card?
In general, you're charged exactly the same fare for travelling with a standard adult Opal card as you are with a regular credit or debit card. That said, there are reduced fares for certain groups of people:
- Children ages 4-15
- Seniors/ Pensioners
- Students
- Apprentices
- Asylum Seekers
- People with disabilities
- Veterans
- Centrelink customers
So, for some, an opal card is extremely beneficial. If you're travelling with children, you'll benefit from using concession Opal cards.
Cost of Driving in Sydney (Petrol + Tolls)
The comfort and ease that comes with driving, make it a much more common choice for families. However, travelling via car within the city could greatly increase your daily living costs in Sydney. The average price of petrol in Sydney is 1.96 dollars per litre (at the time of writing). This is more affordable Brisbane but more expensive than most other Australian cities.
Toll Prices in Sydney
Sydney is generously engulfed in tolls throughout the city. The cost of tolls is on average:
- $10–$20 per day
- WestConnex cap for cars: $11.78 per day
If you drive to work five days a week paying the capped rate, you’ll spend around $3,062.80 per year on tolls alone.
One of the easiest ways to pay for these tolls is via a digital tag account like Linkt. Before committing to buying a car, work out what is economically more beneficial for you first as your transport choices could majorly impact your living cost in Sydney.
Grocery Shopping
You’ll be pleased to know at this point that general grocery shopping tends not to vary much across Australia, especially for the big chain supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles who have set prices on their items.
For a rough budget, the average grocery bill for 1 person Sydney is around $100 a week. For a family of four, you would just work out a budget of $100 per person, so on average $400 a week (NSW).
There are also plenty of ways to reduce your weekly grocery spend:
- Plan meals for the week to avoid buying excess
- Reduce process foods from diet
- Cut down on meat consumption
- Don’t waste anything
- Try growing some of your own veg or herbs
Non-Essential Costs
Of course, life would be boring if it was all work and no play. Sydney is full of great restaurants, cafes, entertainment and activities to enjoy. Along with the essentials, you should also budget for great theatres, sports centres, museums and other entertainment options.
For a family of 4, you should budget around $500 to $800 on these kinds of non-essential costs, more of course if you regularly enjoy eating out or making the most of Sydney’s cultural scene. (Instarem)
So, what salary do you need to live in Sydney?
There is no fixed answer to really give for this, as so many variables can affect how much money you will need to live. With that said, the cost of living in Sydney for a family of 4 will be on average $10,167 monthly or $122,004 annually.
On a dual-income household, to live comfortably in Sydney, you would need to be making roughly $85,000 per person. This actually falls below the general wage of Sydney workers, with the average annual income at $108,000 AUD.
One of the huge benefits of living in Sydney is that, even though the cost of living is generally quite high compared to the rest of the country, the salary and wages usually scale accordingly.
Moving to Sydney
If you're looking to make their mark in the NSW capital, whether you’re moving for work, the lifestyle or just for a fresh start, understanding the cost of living in Sydney will help prepare you for a successful life there.
Whilst Sydney is undoubtedly an expensive city for rent or buying property, it has plenty to offer, from well-paid job opportunities to glorious beaches and the ultimate Aussie lifestyle.
If you’re moving to any of Sydney’s great suburbs then let Holloway Removals & Storage help you get there. Our AFRA-accredited, highly professional interstate removalists have over a decade of experience. You can rest assured knowing that your belongings will arrive safely in this bustling city in no time.
