This index compiles what a move to Australia actually costs in 2026, in one referenced page. It exists because the numbers movers find online are scattered, stale, or invented, and because journalists, community moderators, and movers themselves keep needing a source they can check. Every figure below is either a published government charge or a realistic range verified for the Australia Ready guide library in July 2026, with the verification sources listed in the methodology at the end.
Government visa application charges (2026)
| Pathway | Subclass | Main applicant charge (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday | 417 | $670 |
| Employer Nomination Scheme | 186 | $4,770 |
| Skilled Independent | 189 | $6,135 |
| Partner (combined stages) | 820/801 | $9,365 |
Charges are per main applicant; partners and children add further charges. Skilled pathways usually also require a skills assessment before lodgement: for registered health professions the assessment and registration process runs AUD $2,000 to $5,000 and 6 to 12 months, and every assessing body sets its own fees and timelines. Employer-sponsored roles carry a legal salary floor, the Core Skills Income Threshold, at $79,499 from 1 July 2026. Charges change most years at 1 July; confirm current figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Getting there: flights and shipping
| Item | Realistic range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Long-haul economy return, UK to Sydney, peak season (reference corridor) | $2,500-$4,000 |
| Shipping container, household | $5,000-$10,000 |
The consistent finding across corridors: shipping is where movers overspend. Selling furniture at home and buying second-hand on arrival is often cheaper, but only if the empty-rental furniture buyout below is budgeted, because Australian rentals come without a fridge or washing machine.
Arrival setup costs (capital city)
| Item | Realistic range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Rental bond (4 weeks rent, lodged with the state authority) | $3,000-$4,500 |
| Rent in advance (2 weeks) | $1,500-$2,250 |
| Furniture buyout for an empty rental | $4,000-$8,000 |
| Temporary accommodation, 2-4 weeks | $2,000-$5,000 |
| Utility bonds and connections | $200-$400 |
| Internet installation | $0-$300 |
| Used car, if needed | $10,000-$25,000 |
| Car registration (annual) | $700-$1,200 |
| Comprehensive car insurance (annual) | $1,200-$2,500 |
| Driver licence conversion | $50-$300 |
| Setup total | $15,000-$45,000+ |
The two decisive line items: the rental entry (bond plus advance typically lands as one hit of $5,000 to $8,000 for a couple), and the car, where deferring the purchase in a city with usable public transport removes $12,000 or more from the bill in one decision.
Monthly living costs once landed (couple, no children)
| Item | Sydney / Melbourne | Brisbane / Perth / Adelaide |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 2-bedroom apartment | $3,500-$4,500 | $2,200-$2,800 |
| Groceries | $800-$1,200 | |
| Childcare (per child, per day, after subsidy) | $50-$120 | |
Recommended liquid funds on landing: at least AUD $15,000 to $20,000 for a couple in a capital city, extended to three months of living costs where income will not start immediately.
The avoidable losses
Three costs in the data are not fees at all; they are avoidable losses that recur across corridors:
- Bank exchange margin on the relocation transfer: typically 2 to 4 per cent worse than a foreign exchange specialist, which is thousands of dollars at relocation scale.
- Tax withheld without a Tax File Number: 47 per cent of pay withheld until the TFN is on record. Refundable, but a severe first-month cash-flow hit. The TFN is free at ato.gov.au.
- Unregistered migration agents: documented losses typically run $5,000 to $15,000. Only OMARA-registered agents or Australian legal practitioners may lawfully provide immigration assistance; verify at mara.gov.au.
Methodology and citation
Figures are compiled from the Australia Ready guide library, verified in July 2026 against official Australian sources: visa charges and thresholds from the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au), tax settings from the ATO (ato.gov.au), workplace minimums from the Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au), and market ranges (rents, vehicles, furnishing, shipping) from published market data cross-checked against settled-arrival experience. Ranges are deliberately conservative planning ranges, not best cases. The index is updated each July when Australian government charges reset; this edition reflects charges current at 1 July 2026.
For the narrative version of these numbers, read how much it really costs to move to Australia. For the whole journey in order, start with the complete orientation.
Turn the numbers into a plan
Every Australia Ready guide includes the budget calculator and the week-by-week landing sequence behind these figures, tailored to your corridor or occupation.
Find your guideOr start with the free pre-departure checklist.