Accommodation in Sydney
Expats looking for accommodation in Sydney will find the search a fairly straightforward process with many good residential areas to choose from in, around and outside the city centre. The final choice, however, for most expats will depend on budget, proximity to schools and location in reference to public transport.
While apartment-living in some of Sydney’s inner suburbs, like Randwick, Newtown and Redfern, can be an attractive option to students or young professionals who prefer to be near to the universities and the nightlife, most people choose to live outside of the city’s CBD.
The western suburbs tend to be popular with families because larger properties can be secured at good prices. The eastern suburbs around Double Bay and the foreshore of the harbour are the most exclusive and expensive in the country; though, properties in the popular and picturesque northern beach suburbs, like Manly and Mosman, can also rival the high rental rates of the east.
If planning on renting property, expats can expect to pay AUD 1,500 to AUD 2,000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, or you can find a 3-bedroom unit with a Waterfront address from AUD 5,000 per month.
Expatriates may wish to enlist the help of estate agents in their search for accommodation in Sydney, but this is certainly not a necessity.
Expatriates who have permanent residence and intend purchasing property in Sydney will need to familiarise themselves with the difference between freehold and leasehold purchases and note that a 4 percent stamp duty is payable to the government when a property purchase is made.
