Complete guide for Living in Sydney

Sydney is regarded as one of the most liveable cities in the world, and for a good reason. With it´s stunning beaches, iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Here is also an perfect blend of urban and natural environments, it´s no wonder why there is so many people who is dreaming of living in Sydney. I will explain everything you need to know in this blogpost and share all my experiences of Sydney. One thing is sure, Sydney never disappoints.

Sydney lifestyle

Sydney offers a unik lifestyle with a mix of laid back beach culture and the bustling life of a big city. A lot of people living in Sydney appreciate this lifestyle and really embrace the lifestyle that Sydney offers. From our experience living in Sydney, this made Sydney so special. We really enjoyed to being out and about, which you will be when you are living in Sydney. Apart from spending time on the beach and in café shops with your friends, this is a great place to focus on your career as its encouraged to have goals and work on yourself to succed. It´s easy to be active in Sydney, with plenty of parks, cycling paths and with all the beaches surronding Sydney. I think everyone should visit Sydney atleast once in their lifetime.

Housing and best area to be living in Sydney

It can be very expensive to live in Sydney, maybe not very surpricing as it its a very large city. We paid 400 dollar each week and that was in a shared house, so be prepared to pay quite a bit for accomondation. You can however find cheaper options if you are either willing to live further away from the city centre (which you don´t want) or if you stay in a backpacking hostel.

Staying at a hostel is a good option you are staying in Sydney for a shorter period of time and if you like to hang out with other backpackers. You will have plenty to do all the time. We stayed at Wake up hostel and that´s a good option as it is a clean and well organized hostel.

If you like a bit more privacy and a place that is bit more quiet then would a sharehouse be a good option. There is a lot of great sharehouses but also some bad ones, especially in bigger cities like Sydney. We ended up in a lovely sharehouse and made some really good friends there, that´s why I think this is the best option.

Best neighborhoods to live in Sydney

We lived for the bigger part in Manly when we where living in Sydney. I personally think that it´s the best area to live in Sydney, it has a bit of everything. It´s close to the beach, a lot of café shops and restaurant, green area to go for walks and the ferry takes you to Sydney city centre within minutes. We really loved to stay in Manly!

Inner city living: Popular suburbs like Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, and Paddington are known for their vibrant café culture, boutique shopping, and proximity to the Central Business District (CBD). These areas are perfect for professionals seeking a lively, urban lifestyle, although rent prices can be steep. A one-bedroom apartment here may cost anywhere from AUD 2,500 to 3,500 per month
Coastal living: If you want to wake up to the sound of the ocean, suburbs like Bondi, Manly, and Bronte are ideal. These areas are popular for their proximity to Sydney’s best beaches and their laid-back, coastal lifestyle. Bondi, in particular, offers a blend of beach culture and cosmopolitan amenities, though the cost of housing reflects its desirability.
Family friendly suburbs: Families often gravitate toward suburbs like Chatswood, Balmain, and Randwick due to their reputable schools, parks, and family-oriented communities. These areas offer more space and a quieter environment compared to the inner-city, while still being within a reasonable commute to the CBD.

Cost of living in Sydney

Sydney is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world and this was our experience as well. We found it to be very expensive to live in Sydney and that´s one of the main reasons that we moved from Sydney to WA. You need a job to be able to have a good life in Sydney otherwise you will run out of money quickly. With that said, if you have a good paying job and some money saved, then Sydney is the best city in Australia to live in. Here´s a breakdown of the key expenses of living in Sydney.

Rent: Rent is typically the largest expense for those living in Sydney, as I wrote before you can expect to pay from 2,000 to 3,500 AUD per month. If you choose to live in shared accomondation then you can find cheaper options!
Food and dining: Grocery shopping in Sydney is comparable to other western countries but dining out can be expensive. A simple meal at an regular restaurant can cost around 15-20 AUD, while dining at a mid range restaurant might set you back 25-50 AUD per person. You can find some good discount option at decent restaurants, it can help you to save some money and have the option to go out and eat now and then.
Public Transport: A weekly travel pass usually cost around 50-60 AUD for unlimited travel within the city. worth to know is that you can use your credit card in the buses if you only are using the buses now and then.
Gym & Fitness: Memberships at lokal gyms cost around 60 to 100 AUD per month.

Work and career oppertunities living in sydney

Sydney is a dynamic city with a wide range of work oppertunities, especially for young travelers and backpackers. Thanks to the working holiday visa, backpackers have a great oppertunity to work while they are exploring Australia. Read more about how to get a WHV here.

While we were living in Sydney, we got jobs thru Zoom recruitment. If you have some trouble finding work then Zoom is a good option. They will set you up with work, mostly with picking and packing jobs in wharehouses. This was perfect for us, you have to be prepared to change job now and then if they don´t manage to get you a longtime job straight away, and this can be a bit annoying but in general, this is a great way to go!

Backpacker friendly jobs in Sydney

Hospitality: Sydneys bustling tourism industry creates a large demand of jobs in restaurants, cafés, bars and hotels. It´s very common for backpackers to work with hospitality in Sydney and if that´s your thing then go for it. Here is so many options but my advise is to get to Sydney before high season that starts december because the positions for these jobs will be taken very quickly as there is a high competion for them.
Hostels & accommodation: Many backpackers find work in hostels, either as a reception staff or housekeeper/cleaner. Some of the hostels offer accomondation in exchange for few hours of work each week. If you are new to the city don´t be afraid to ask for this, it can help you save some money in the begining.
Construction: If you prefer to do some manual labor, there will be oppertunities to do so. Just be careful so you don´t end up on a shady workplace! Except that you will need a white card, then you are good to go.
Wharehouse: As I said, wharehouse is a great option for backpackers. The hours are good, it´s not very stressful and the money is decent. There is a bit of competition for these kind of jobs but if you can find one, then try to keep it.

Transport and commuting in Sydney

It´s easy to getting around in Sydney with the public transport and you don´t really need a car. Sydney has an extensive network of trains buses and ferries. The train system is efficient for commuting to and from suburbs and the ferries are also a great option to get between places while the buses will get you to all the places between. They are all very reliable and works well. You only need an Opal card for the public transport, then you are good to go.

When we were living in Sydney we were also driving with a car a lot. As any other big city, there will be traffic jam in peak traffic but except that it was nice to be able to drive around. The reason to own a car while you are living in Sydney is that you get the possibility to explore the surroundings of Sydney as the Blue mountains, Jervis bay and much more. That was a big highlight for us to get to these incredible placeses.

Outdoor activities and natural experiences

The best part of living in sydney if you ask me are the oppertunities to get outside and explore. It can be anything, there is so many options that it´s impossible to stay inside, especially in the summer months. One of the best things to do in Sydney is simply to go outside and go on a coastal walk or to go and lay on one of the beautiful beaches.

Beaches: Sydney is famous for its beautiful beaches. Bondi and Manly are the most famous, were mostly at Manly beach and it is a really good beach! Here is many more and a beach for everyone, you can read more about it in our post Sydneys best beaches. One beach that you only have to visit is Palm Beach, its an incredible beach with stunning views!
Hiking: There is so many good trails to do in Sydney with great views. My favorite is the coastal walk between Manly and Dee Why, its a 7 km (one way) walk and it takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Its great and it has stunning ocean views. Other great walks is the North Head Sanctuary or the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, which are very popular to do.
Explore the surroundings: If you love hiking, then living in Sydney is great! There is several more options outside Sydney to do some hiking and exploring. The Blue Mountains are great and offer more extensive trails through Australias unique bushland. Read more about the Blue Mountains here. Other options to explore around Sydney Jervis bay, Central coast or the Southern Highlands. There is a lot to explore and if you have car then you should take advantage of it!

Sydney is great city, no doubt about it! Its a unik city that has so much to offer, you don´t have to be a city-person to enjoy living in Sydney. Its green surrounding, beautiful beaches and warm people makes this place a fantastic city to live in. Be prepared that it´s going to be expensive but if you want to give Sydney a go, then do it. You won´t regret it!