Moving to Australia: What Americans Need to Know
Important Disclaimer: Australian visa requirements, costs, points tests, biosecurity requirements, and other regulations reflect general conditions as of early 2025 and change frequently. Visa requirements are complex and vary significantly by individual circumstances, occupation, and program. Always verify current requirements with official Australian government sources (Department of Home Affairs), registered migration agents, or immigration attorneys. Cost of living estimates are approximate and vary by location and lifestyle. Biosecurity requirements are strict and subject to change. International Van Lines is a moving company and does not provide immigration or legal advice.
When Alex got an engineering job offer in Melbourne, his friends were jealous. Beautiful weather, incredible beaches, laid-back lifestyle, great coffee—Australia sounded perfect. His Australian colleagues assured him he’d love it.
Two years into his Australian adventure, Alex does love it. But the transition involved surprises nobody warned him about. The cost of living shocked him—everything from housing to groceries cost more than he expected. Getting his household goods through Australian customs took three months and required more paperwork than seemed humanly possible. The casual Aussie work culture took adjustment after years in corporate America. And don’t even get him started on how much he paid for his car.
Australia offers an amazing lifestyle, but Americans considering the move need realistic expectations. Let’s walk through everything you should know.
Visa Pathways for Americans
You need a visa to live and work in Australia. Several pathways exist depending on your situation.
Skilled Migration Visas
Australia prioritizes skilled workers in occupations they need. If your profession is on the skilled occupation lists, you might qualify.
Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189): For skilled workers who don’t need employer sponsorship. You’re assessed on points (age, education, work experience, English proficiency). You need high scores to receive invitations.
Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190): Similar to 189 but with state nomination. Individual states nominate applicants whose skills they need. This provides additional points and slightly easier path.
Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491): For skilled workers willing to live and work in regional Australia for at least three years. Provides pathway to permanent residency.
The points test evaluates:
- Age (25-32 gets maximum points, younger or older gets fewer)
- English proficiency (need competent English minimum, proficient or superior English gets more points)
- Skilled employment experience (overseas and Australian experience counted separately)
- Education (higher degrees get more points)
- Other factors like partner skills, Australian study, regional study
Minimum score is 65 points, but competitive scores typically need 80-90+. High-demand occupations might succeed with lower scores. Saturated occupations need much higher scores.
Employer-Sponsored Visas
If an Australian employer hires you, they can sponsor your visa.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482): Allows Australian employers to bring foreign workers for positions they can’t fill locally. Requires labor market testing (proving Australians weren’t available). Valid 2-4 years depending on occupation.
After 2-3 years on a 482 visa, you might qualify for permanent residency through Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).
Employer sponsorship requires:
- Employer willing to sponsor (significant administrative work for them)
- Your occupation on relevant skilled occupation lists
- Salary meeting minimum thresholds (currently AUD $70,000 minimum)
- Genuine position that’s needed
Partner Visas
If you’re partnered with or married to an Australian citizen or permanent resident, they can sponsor you for a partner visa.
Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801): For partners of Australian citizens within Australia Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300): For partners intending to marry Australian citizens
Partner visas require proving genuine relationship through evidence like joint finances, shared living arrangements, commitment statements, and photos/communications.
Processing takes 18-24 months typically. Initial visa is temporary; permanent residency comes later after proving the relationship is ongoing.
Student Visas
Studying in Australia provides a pathway to residency for some people.
You get a student visa for your course duration. After completing certain degrees, you can get post-study work rights (Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485) for 2-4 years depending on qualification level.
During post-study work rights, you can work full-time in Australia. Many people use this period to gain Australian work experience, find employer sponsorship, or build points for skilled migration.
This pathway works best for younger people willing to invest 2-3 years in Australian higher education.
The Real Cost of Living
Prepare for sticker shock. Australia is expensive.
Housing
Sydney and Melbourne are among the world’s most expensive housing markets.
Sydney rent:
- One-bedroom apartment in decent suburb: AUD $600-900 per week ($2,400-3,600 monthly)
- Two-bedroom apartment: AUD $800-1,400 per week ($3,200-5,600 monthly)
Melbourne rent:
- One-bedroom apartment: AUD $450-750 per week ($1,800-3,000 monthly)
- Two-bedroom apartment: AUD $600-1,000 per week ($2,400-4,000 monthly)
Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide cost slightly less but are still expensive.
Home purchase prices in Sydney and Melbourne average AUD $900,000-1,200,000+ for houses. Apartments start around AUD $600,000.
Groceries and Food
Groceries cost roughly 30-50% more than the US.
Basic groceries examples (approximate AUD):
- Milk (1 liter): $1.60
- Bread (loaf): $3.50
- Eggs (dozen): $6.00
- Chicken breast (1 kg): $12.00
- Beef (1 kg): $18-25
- Tomatoes (1 kg): $5-8
Eating out is expensive:
- Casual restaurant meal: AUD $20-35
- Mid-range restaurant dinner: AUD $40-70 per person
- Coffee (flat white): AUD $4.50-5.50
- Beer at pub: AUD $10-14
Transportation
Cars are expensive to buy and operate.
Petrol costs around AUD $1.80-2.20 per liter (approximately USD $5-6 per gallon).
Car prices run significantly higher than the US for similar vehicles. A mid-range SUV worth USD $35,000 in the US costs AUD $50,000-60,000 ($34,000-40,000 USD) in Australia.
Registration, insurance, and maintenance also cost more.
Public transport in major cities is decent. Monthly passes cost AUD $150-200 depending on city and zones.
Utilities and Services
Electricity is expensive. Expect AUD $150-300+ per quarter depending on home size and climate control use.
Internet: AUD $60-100 monthly for home broadband.
Mobile phone plans: AUD $40-80 monthly for decent data plans.
Healthcare
If you’re a permanent resident, you’re eligible for Medicare (Australia’s public healthcare system). Medical care and hospital visits are mostly free or low-cost.
Temporary visa holders need private health insurance (required for most visas). Expect AUD $150-300 monthly for singles, $300-600 monthly for families.
Overall Budget
Singles need AUD $50,000-70,000 annually ($34,000-47,000 USD) for comfortable living in major cities. Families need significantly more, especially with Sydney or Melbourne housing costs.
Salaries in Australia are higher than US averages, but the tax burden is also higher. Factor in both when comparing opportunities.
Australian Work Culture
Work culture differs from the US in ways that surprise Americans.
Casual and Direct
Australians are more casual in business settings than Americans. First names are used immediately. Dress codes are relaxed. Hierarchy is less rigid.
Communication is direct. Australians say what they mean without excessive corporate speak or politeness buffering. This can feel blunt to Americans used to softer communication.
Work-Life Balance
Australians take work-life balance seriously. Long hours and constant availability aren’t celebrated. Leaving work at 5 PM is normal.
Annual leave (vacation) is 4 weeks minimum, and people actually take it. Taking your full allocation isn’t frowned upon—it’s expected.
Tall Poppy Syndrome
Australian culture includes “tall poppy syndrome”—tendency to cut down people who get too successful or boastful. Self-promotion and talking about achievements is seen less favorably than in the US.
Humility and self-deprecation are valued. Confidence is fine, but coming across as arrogant or too self-congratulatory rubs Australians wrong.
Workplace Banter
Aussies tease each other constantly. Workplace banter involves humor that can seem harsh to outsiders. If your colleagues are giving you grief, it usually means they like you.
Don’t take offense. Learning to give it back is part of fitting in. But understand the line—actual harassment or discrimination isn’t okay and is protected against legally.
Australian Biosecurity is Serious
Australia’s biosecurity requirements are the strictest you’ll encounter. They’re protecting an island ecosystem from invasive species and diseases.
What Gets Inspected
Expect your household goods to face thorough biosecurity inspection. They’re looking for:
Soil and plant material: Any items that touched soil or farms get scrutinized. Shoes worn outdoors, gardening tools, camping equipment—all get inspected and might require cleaning or treatment.
Wooden furniture and items: Wood can harbor pests. Furniture gets inspected for signs of infestation. Some items require fumigation or treatment before entry.
Food products: Most food can’t be imported. Don’t pack food in your shipment.
Animal products: Leather goods, wool items, and animal products face restrictions and inspections.
Seeds and plants: Generally prohibited unless you have permits.
The Process
Your container arrives and goes to biosecurity inspection before customs clearance. Officers examine contents looking for biosecurity risks.
If they find issues, several outcomes are possible:
- Item is treated (fumigation, cleaning)
- Item is destroyed
- Shipment is delayed while you arrange treatment
- You’re charged fees for inspection and treatment
The process takes time. Plan for 2-4 weeks of biosecurity inspection beyond normal shipping time.
How to Prepare
Clean everything thoroughly before packing. Wash shoes, clean gardening tools, vacuum camping equipment.
Don’t pack anything with soil on it.
Don’t pack food products (except small quantities of commercially packaged goods, and even those might face restrictions).
Declare everything honestly on your customs forms. Failing to declare biosecurity risk items results in fines and penalties.
Accept that some items might not make it through. If that antique wooden furniture gets rejected for biosecurity reasons, you’ll have to abandon it or pay for it to be returned.
Healthcare and Medicare
Australia’s healthcare system is excellent and one of the country’s best features.
Medicare
Once you’re a permanent resident, you’re eligible for Medicare. This covers:
- Doctor visits (bulk billing doctors charge nothing)
- Hospital care in public hospitals
- Prescription drugs (subsidized through PBS)
Medicare is funded through taxes. You pay a 2% Medicare levy on your taxable income.
Private Health Insurance
Many Australians maintain private health insurance despite Medicare. Private insurance provides:
- Choice of doctor for hospital care
- Coverage for services Medicare doesn’t cover (dental, optical, physio)
- Shorter wait times for elective procedures
The government incentivizes private insurance through the Lifetime Health Cover system. If you don’t get private insurance by age 31, you pay 2% more per year you delayed.
Many people get “extras” cover for dental, optical, and allied health even if they skip hospital cover.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Prescriptions are heavily subsidized. Most medications cost AUD $30-45 per script regardless of actual drug cost. After spending a threshold amount annually, medications drop to AUD $7.50.
Temporary Visa Holders
If you’re on a temporary visa, you’re not eligible for Medicare initially. You must have private international health insurance meeting visa requirements.
Taxes
Australian tax rates are higher than most US states.
Tax brackets for 2025:
- Up to AUD $18,200: 0%
- $18,201-$45,000: 19%
- $45,001-$120,000: 32.5%
- $120,001-$180,000: 37%
- Over $180,000: 45%
Plus the 2% Medicare levy.
Superannuation (Australia’s retirement system) requires employers to contribute 11.5% of your salary into super accounts. This is on top of your salary, not deducted from it.
US Tax Obligations
US citizens remain subject to US taxes even as Australian residents. You’ll file both US and Australian returns.
But tax treaties prevent most double taxation. Australian taxes are typically high enough that you owe little or nothing to the US after claiming foreign tax credits.
FBAR reporting applies if your Australian bank accounts exceed $10,000.
The Australian Lifestyle
Beyond practical logistics, what’s life actually like?
Weather
Melbourne and Sydney have mild winters (50-60°F) and warm summers (70-85°F). Brisbane and northern areas are warmer/tropical. Perth and Adelaide have Mediterranean climates.
Compared to most of the US, Australian winters are mild. You don’t need heavy winter coats in major cities.
The sun is intense. Skin cancer rates are high. Sunscreen and hats aren’t optional.
Outdoor Culture
Australians spend tons of time outdoors. Beaches, hiking, barbecues, outdoor sports—this is central to Australian culture.
If you’re not outdoorsy, you’ll feel disconnected from a major part of Australian life.
Distance and Isolation
Australia is far from everywhere. Flying to the US takes 15-20 hours and costs $1,000-2,000+ roundtrip.
That distance affects staying connected with US family. Time zones make real-time communication challenging. Australia is 14-18 hours ahead of the US depending on daylight saving.
Distances within Australia are also huge. Flying from Sydney to Perth takes 5 hours. Road trips between cities take days.
Cities vs Regional
Major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) offer cosmopolitan lifestyles with diversity, culture, and amenities.
Regional areas offer lower costs and more space but less diversity and fewer opportunities. Internet can be slower. Services are more limited.
Making Your Move
If you’ve decided Australia is right for you, the moving process requires careful planning.
Biosecurity requirements make Australian moves more complex than moving to most countries. Items need to be extremely clean. Wooden furniture might need treatment. Some items might not make it through.
Work with moving companies experienced in Australian moves who understand biosecurity requirements and can advise on what’s likely to cause issues.
Get Your Australia Moving Quote
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take a skills assessment?
For skilled migration visas, yes. Each occupation has a designated assessing authority that verifies your qualifications and experience meet Australian standards. This process takes time and costs several hundred dollars.
Can I bring my car?
You can import a personal vehicle, but costs are high. Import duties, compliance modifications, and shipping often exceed the vehicle’s value. Most people sell their US car and buy in Australia.
What about my pets?
Australia allows pet imports but requirements are strict. Minimum 10-day quarantine is required. The process takes 6-8 months of preparation with vaccinations, titer tests, and permits. Expect costs of AUD $3,000-6,000 per pet.
Is it easy to make friends as an expat?
Australians are friendly but social circles can be established and hard to break into. Join clubs, sports, or activities to meet people. Most expats find their social lives take 6-12 months to develop.
Should I move to Sydney or Melbourne?
Personal preference. Sydney has better weather and beaches. Melbourne has better food and culture. Sydney is more expensive. Melbourne has actual seasons. Both are great cities. Visit both if possible.
What if I hate it and want to leave?
Permanent residency allows you to leave and return freely. If you’re on a temporary visa, understand your obligations. Most people adjust and love it, but if it doesn’t work out, you can always move back.
