Moving To Melbourne
You may be considering a move to Melbourne one of Australia’s larger cities.
Melbourne is widely regarded as the sports capital of Australia. Apart from that Melbourne has
great educational institutions, a fast-paced business environment for expats entrepreneurs moving their business to Melbourne, as well as a world renowned coffee culture, and its own unique take on culture and arts.
Let’s learn more.
What to Expect After Relocating to Melbourne
- Melbourne is cooler than other Australian cities, meaning you should consider keeping your long sleeves when you move to Melbourne as temperatures can sink to under 10 Celsius during the winter.
- The job market for expats in Melbourne is booming. There are on average millions of job vacancies yearly with an additional 886,000 predicted for 2023.
- Moving to Melbourne from the USA is quite liberating as free wifi is commonplace (no purchase necessary.) Add to this the world-class coffee and cafe culture, and your life in Melbourne, Australia as a digital nomad could be quite comfortable.
Why Should You Move to Melbourne?
Melbourne is one of Australia’s most exciting cities. With great schools, a rich culture of its own, and golden beaches plenty, Melbourne is an easy place to relocate and live.
From Formula 1 to a large number of sporting facilities in the city, it has everything to keep those who move to Melbourne and are sports fans entertained.
Architecture is varied and historic in the city. Australia’s colonial period is on showcase here with the Victoria State Library, Flinders Street Station, and Queen Victoria Market.
Melbourne is a city of festivals and fashion shows.
There are more than 30 different music festivals annually in or around Melbourne, which you can enjoy after moving to Melbourne and top fashion designers continue to flock to the city for shows and showcases.
Moments after leaving Melbourne’s central business district, you can find vineyards everywhere, including the most popular location: Yarra Valley.
Melbourne has much to offer over its sister cities so it’s definitely worth considering relocating to Melbourne.
- Tax & Accounting
- Relocation & Shipping
- Visa & Immigration
- Property & Real Estate
- Language & Culture
- Health & Wellness
Before relocating your business to Melbourne, you need to learn about expat taxes in Melbourne, Australia.
There are several different types of taxes in Australia including income, goods and services tax, land taxes, and excise duties.
Through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the government collects taxes that are Federal whereas State Governments collect taxes such as land tax which is state based.
Most expats want to open a bank account before they relocate their businesses to Melbourne.
This is difficult though some financial institutions permit this upon providing relevant identification documents.
As an expat in Melbourne, this will require your address, visa type, date of arrival and departure (if applicable), passport information, and at least 100 points of documentation related to these facts. Bank accounts can be opened via phone or online, so there is no need to visit a branch.
When moving to Melbourne, be sure to get in touch with our Melbourne E-Team service providers to obtain a quote for the items you need to bring with you.
If you relocate to Melbourne with your family and have more things, consider using sea freight as the weight of many or heavy objects will not increase the cost of transportation.
Air freight is quicker but is much more weight restrictive.
Researching what you will require when moving your business to Melbourne is key to a smooth transition. Expats looking to live and work in Melbourne, Australia will need a visa. Different nationals will need to collect various documents and adhere to requirements, but generally, before relocating your business to Melbourne, you will need:
- Your skills and qualifications for the Australian Assessment Authority.
- Health check information. This changes depending on expats’ country of origin, occupation, visa type, etc.
- For non-native English speakers, assessments based on international standardized tests are required and include tests such as PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, IELTS, and the CAE.
- Those moving to Melbourne, Australia for long term or permanent stays will require a character assessment and submit a value statement.
Check our “Moving to Expatland: The Journey to Melbourne” podcast discussing relocating, living, and doing business in Melbourne, and highlighting the cultural differences.
The average price of a house in the city of Melbourne was over $1,000,000 as of early 2022, with apartment units going for just under $630,000. Real estate purchasing in Melbourne is competitive and fast moving as the city grows quickly.
Residences for Melbourne are available for both direct purchases and by auction.
Renting prices in Melbourne meanwhile remain some of the lowest in Australia, though still in line with many other western cities.
The home rental prices were about $1,700 per month ($440 per week), while prices for apartment unit rentals in Melbourne were about $1,500 ($400 per week.)
Rentals are calculated by week rather than month or year in Australia, so keep this in mind when relocating your business to Melbourne and budgeting for your new office or home.
Melbourne is particularly influenced by western culture and the British Isles. It is known as Australia’s cultural capital and regularly leads lists describing the most livable cities in the world with its expats and expats communities from all over the globe.
Melbourne features several music, literary, dance, and art festivals every year and has a thriving comedy scene. Sports are extremely popular in Melbourne, and feature race car driving, Australian rules football, rugby, tennis, and more.
Cycling is popular, as are beach-side recreational activities, including triathlons and rowing. Restaurants, especially cafes, are numerous, as are shopping options and parks.
The Australian universal healthcare is called Medicare and uses taxpayer dollars to subsidize medical procedures for residents. Only certain visa holders are eligible for Medicare, and they must also meet Medicare visa holder requirements.
Certain countries have healthcare agreements with Australia, so be sure to check if your country from where you are moving to Melbourne, is on the list. Private healthcare is also available for expats in Melbourne.
For exercise and wellness routines, Melbourne’s CBD and the surrounding areas feature gyms, spas, yoga centers, swimming pools, sports facilities, holistic healing clinics, and more. Check if your facility of choice is covered under Medicare, as certain gyms and clinics are part of the universal healthcare system.
Frequently Asked Question
- What Are the Average Monthly Living Expenses in Melbourne?
The average monthly living cost for a single person living in Melbourne is around $1,000 per month without including rent. That number rises by more than triple for a family of four, where the average is closer to $3,500.
When compared to New York City, prices in Melbourne are generally considered lower. Restaurant prices ibn Melbourne are about 30% lower than in NYC, while groceries and consumer goods are 20% lower.
When factoring in that the average salary in Melbourne is about $52,000, the purchasing power is only 4% different compared to NYC citizens and in favor of Melbourne.
- Is Melbourne a Good Place to Live?
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Melbourne ranked as the most livable city globally for seven years straight as of 2017, and has been in the top three since 2002.
This put it in the same leagues as cities such as Vienna, Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary. As of 2020, it still ranks in the top eight.
Part of this is because of Australia’s strong response to the COVID 19 pandemic, while European cities and North American cities floundered in this regard. Compared to the average salary, the cost of living also gives Melbournites significantly better buying power in their region when compared to these places.
- Where Is the Best Place to Live in Melbourne?
Before moving to Melbourne, consider these 3 best places to live in:
- Kilda West – A short commute to the CBD, this neighborhood features beachside attractions and vibrant parks. It is rather expensive, with prices of about $2,170,000 for homes and apartments at about $575,000
- Albert Park – Just three kilometers for the CBD, this neighborhood features victorian-style architecture and the St. Vincent Place Precinct which is modeled on similar neighborhoods in London. Prices for homes are about $2,150,000.
- Port Melbourne – A neighborhood with a working class history, most development here is very new. Houses here are about $1,500,000 while apartments will cost around $755,000. It’s just five kilometers from the city center, and has excellent educational facilities. Excellent for families moving to Melbourne with kids.
- What is the Average Rent in Melbourne?
The average weekly rent in Melbourne is $440 for houses and $400 for apartment units as of 2019. House rents continue to rise or hold steady, while apartment unit rentals are lowering slightly.