Housing
Sydney is a multi-cultural and multi-faceted city with a compact city center and equally interesting surrounding suburbs. The city center, heart of commercial and business activities in Sydney, is the best spot for expats who wish to have easy access to famous attractions, fine restaurants, and shopping malls.
However, renting a house in this location is quite expensive. Rent for a simple one-bedroom apartment in the city costs about USD 1,651.97, while a two to three-bedroom spread will set you back by about USD 3, 213.69
Most of the low to middle level cost housing can be found to the South and West of the city's central business district. On the other hand, those who wish to find middle to high level cost housing can locate most of these on the North Shore.
The most exclusive and expensive housing options are found in the suburbs around Double Bay, to the east of Sydney's central business district.
Popular expatriate neighborhoods are Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Paddington. Areas close to the beach like Clovelly and Bronte are also best-sellers for expatriates who prefer a more relaxing atmosphere.
Monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment outside the city center is around USD 1,186.43 while a two to three bedroom place would cost about USD 2,266.61.
Food
Due to its multicultural background, Sydney offers a myriad of options for dining. If budget is something that you have to consider, there are a lot of affordable choices. Most Asian restaurants offer cheaper menus, for example, a Korean set lunch would cost only USD 15.
Mid-range restaurants offer great food for around USD 25 to USD 35 per person. High-end meals on the other hand can cost anywhere from USD 400 to USD 500.
Sydney also happens to have some of the best world-class restaurants such as The Rocks, Bilson's, and Tetsuya's.
Cooking a decent meal at home is a more affordable option, especially for families. Those who prefer cooking at home may want to take note of how much the following basic food items are: a liter of milk costs around USD 1.83, a loaf of fresh bread about USD 2.88, and a dozen eggs cost around USD 3.88. A kilo of pork chops costs around USD 15.96, a kilo of salmon costs about USD 24.82, and a kilo of chicken costs about USD 6.21.
Transportation
Unlike most expat destinations, getting around Sydney by car is a good option. Roads leading into and out between the city center and Sydney's suburbs are easily navigable and have clear signages along the way. However, you may wish to avoid peak hours in the morning from 6 to 9:30 and in the afternoon from 4 to 6:30.
Going around the city using public transportation is actually a convenient and comfortable choice as well. This is best for those who prefer not to be faced with the worry of traffic congestion during peak hours.
You can take a taxi, a mode of transport which is quite accessible in Sydney's urban centers. There are two rates. The day rate (rate 1) has a flag fall of $3 and a distance rate of $1.79 a kilometer, a "waiting" rate of $0.77 a minute and a booking fee of $1.50. The night rate is applicable to journeys commenced between 10PM and 6AM, which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate.
Other convenient modes of transport are buses, trains, and ferries which cover an extensive area within Sydney. The city's ticketing system may be a bit complex, and it is advisable to read up on it beforehand, or to take a trip with someone already familiar with it. A one week period multi-pass costs around USD 41.00.
Utilities
Sydney has a deregulated energy industry, which gives you more freedom in choosing your provider. You may visit the website of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) at http://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/ for more information on how you can choose your provider and for a comprehensive list of energy providers.
Sydney Water is the largest provider of water in the city. Their website www.sydneywater.com.au provides more detail on pricing and requirements to set up a connection. Expatriates who rent property or plan to rent a property must check with their landlord if the water connection or supply would be included in the bill.
The basic cost of utility bills (electricity, gas, water, and garbage collection) monthly is about USD 114.35.
Sydney also happens to rank high on the charts as one of the most expensive cities in the world... But with all that this city has to offer, the price is definitely worth paying.
More Expat Resources
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