If you're thinking about living in Australia, this question has already crossed your mind: how much do I need in the bank before boarding? And the honest answer is "it depends" — on the city, the accommodation type, your lifestyle. But "it depends" doesn't help anyone plan, so let's turn it into concrete numbers.
Why do the city and room type matter so much?
The biggest difference between cities is rent — on its own it eats 40–50% of your monthly budget. And within the same city, the accommodation type changes everything again: a shared room can cost half of a private one. Choosing those two things well means A$400–1,000 extra in your pocket, every month.
Accommodation types available
| Type | What it is | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room | You share the room with someone else — each pays half | Whoever wants to save as much as possible on arrival |
| Private room (shared house) | Your own room in a house with other people. Shared kitchen and bathroom. | The most common for immigrants — balance between cost and privacy |
| Studio | A compact apartment of your own — bedroom, living area and kitchen combined | Whoever prefers full privacy and has stable income |
| 1-bedroom apartment | A full apartment, alone or with a partner | Whoever is already established or arriving as a couple |
Furnished or unfurnished?
A shared house almost always comes furnished — bed, wardrobe, desk, and common areas with sofa, fridge, utensils. You arrive with your suitcase and that's it, you're living there.
A studio or apartment through an agency can come completely empty (unfurnished). Always check before signing. If it's unfurnished, factor in the cost of setting the place up (A$2,000–5,000, easily) — or hunt for second-hand items on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree.
Renting through an agency can be hard at the start
Australian real estate agencies ask for local rental history, references, proof of income. Someone who just stepped off the plane has none of that — and it's a real obstacle.
The ways around it: offering 2–3 months upfront, hunting for lease transfers in Facebook groups, renting directly from the owner (no agency), or starting in a shared house via Flatmates and building local references from there.
Weekly rent by city and accommodation type
A detail that confuses everyone at first: in Australia, rent is quoted per week. Multiply by 4.33 for the monthly figure.
| Accommodation type | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Gold Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared room | A$190–280/wk | A$160–240/wk | A$140–210/wk | A$120–190/wk | A$140–220/wk |
| Private room (shared house) | A$280–420/wk | A$230–360/wk | A$200–310/wk | A$170–270/wk | A$190–300/wk |
| Studio | A$420–600/wk | A$360–520/wk | A$310–450/wk | A$260–380/wk | A$290–420/wk |
| 1-bedroom apartment | A$560–800/wk | A$460–680/wk | A$400–600/wk | A$330–500/wk | A$380–560/wk |
Sources: Flatmates.com.au · Domain.com.au · realestate.com.au — March 2026
Where to find available rooms
- Flatmates.com.au — Australia's biggest platform for shared accommodation
- Community Facebook groups for your city — rooms and lease transfers get posted all the time
- Gumtree.com.au — classifieds with cheaper and short-term options
- Renting directly from the owner, no agency — common, perfectly legal, and conditions tend to be more flexible
Full monthly cost of living — beyond rent
The figures below are for someone in a private room in a shared house — the most common arrangement among immigrants:
| Category | Sydney | Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Gold Coast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (private room) | A$1,210–1,820 | A$1,000–1,560 | A$870–1,340 | A$740–1,170 | A$820–1,300 |
| Food (cooking at home) | A$320–500 | A$320–500 | A$320–500 | A$320–500 | A$320–500 |
| Public transport | A$180–220 | A$100–150 | A$120–160 | A$80–120 | A$100–150 |
| Mobile phone | A$30–50 | A$30–50 | A$30–50 | A$30–50 | A$30–50 |
| Leisure / going out | A$120–250 | A$120–250 | A$120–250 | A$120–250 | A$120–250 |
| Unexpected / other | A$100–200 | A$100–200 | A$100–200 | A$100–200 | A$100–200 |
| Estimated total/month | A$2,000–3,000 | A$1,700–2,700 | A$1,550–2,400 | A$1,400–2,200 | A$1,520–2,450 |
Sources: Flatmates.com.au · ABS · MoneySmart ASIC
How much to save before going — recommended reserve
| City | Minimum reserve | Comfortable reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A$8,000–10,000 | A$15,000–20,000 |
| Melbourne | A$6,500–8,500 | A$12,000–16,000 |
| Brisbane | A$5,500–7,500 | A$10,000–14,000 |
| Adelaide | A$5,000–7,000 | A$9,000–13,000 |
| Gold Coast | A$5,500–7,500 | A$10,000–14,000 |
Arrival costs — what many people forget
Bond (rental deposit)
The bond is the security deposit you pay when moving in and get back when you leave — as long as you haven't broken anything. The legal standard is 4 weeks of rent. But there's a distinction worth knowing:
Informal shared house (directly with a resident or owner)
Here the bond isn't registered anywhere — it's a handshake deal, and in practice many charge just 2 weeks. Being informal, everything rests on trust between the parties. So one rule: demand a written receipt, with amount, date and refund conditions. Always.
Renting through an agency (real estate)
The bond gets lodged with the state government body (Fair Trading in NSW, RTBA in VIC, RTA in QLD), which protects you legally. Standard is 4 weeks, and lodgement is mandatory within 10 business days of receipt.
Arrival costs checklist
| Cost | Estimated amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bond (deposit) | 2–4 weeks of rent | 2 wks common in informal shared houses; 4 wks in formal leases |
| 1st month upfront | Equivalent to monthly rent | May be required — keep it available as a reserve |
| SIM + phone plan | A$30–80 | Optus, Vodafone, Telstra — buy at the airport or soon after |
| Transport card | A$10–20 + credit | Opal (NSW), Myki (VIC) or Go Card (QLD) |
| Basic household items | A$200–500 | Bedding, utensils — Facebook Marketplace has great options |
| Airport transfer | A$15–60 | The train beats the taxi in most cities |
The exchange rate matters a lot
As of March 2026, 1 Australian dollar is worth roughly R$3.80 — meaning A$10,000 is about R$38,000. When transferring, use Wise or Remitly: the rates are far better than traditional banks.
Each city's profile
| Sydney | The biggest job market and highest salaries — and the highest cost too, the two go hand in hand. Ideal for finance, tech, medicine and law. |
| Melbourne | Considered the most liveable. Good job market, lower cost than Sydney, strong cultural scene. Great for tech, education, arts and hospitality. |
| Brisbane | Accelerating growth with the 2032 Olympics on the horizon. Excellent climate, lower cost, growing opportunities in construction, tech and health. |
| Adelaide | The most affordable of the 5. Much lower cost of living, smaller market too — but with opportunities in health, agriculture and defence. A good pick for saving money fast. |
| Gold Coast | Sits between Brisbane and Sydney on cost. Strong in tourism, hospitality and construction. Many immigrants choose it for the climate and the large Latin community. |
A practical tip before picking your city
Open Flatmates.com.au right now and look at available rooms in the area you're considering — real prices, today's prices. The tables in this article are estimates, and the rental market doesn't sit still.
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