🦘 Australia Budget
8 years of experience: salaries, rent, cost of living… The complete guide.
Australia is by far the most expensive destination on our journey - but also the one where we could legally work (Working Holiday Visa), which completely changes the budget equation.
💰 Overall range
€2500-3500/month for 2 people, all-in, for a comfortable city lifestyle.
📊 Indicative breakdown (2 people, in a city)
| Item | Monthly range |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (share house/studio) | €1200-1800 |
| Food | €500-700 |
| Transport | €150-250 |
| Activities & outings | €200-350 |
| Health insurance/Medicare | Depends on visa status |
💼 The key point: the WHV lets you work
Unlike Asia or South America where we travel without local income, the Australian Working Holiday Visa lets you legally work on-site. We took on several kinds of jobs (farm work, hospitality, painting, delivery) that largely offset the high cost of living.
📍 What makes the budget vary
- Sydney/Melbourne are notably more expensive than the rest of the country, especially for housing
- Rural areas/farms (often necessary to qualify for the 2nd year WHV) have a much lower cost of living, sometimes with accommodation included with the job
- Perth and Western Australia, where we spent a good chunk of our time, stay more affordable than the East Coast
Read our full journey on the About page.
Thinking about a WHV in Australia? Write to us your questions: romain.steph@ourlifeabroad.com