Cost of moving from the US to Australia

What to do first

1. US citizens use the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), not the Working Holiday 417; check the age limit and conditions on the Home Affairs site.
2. For an employer-sponsored or skilled visa, check your options with a registered migration agent (MARA) before paying for anything.
3. Fees rise every 1 July: the charge is set by the date Home Affairs receives your application.
4. Book temporary accommodation for the first weeks; landlords usually want local references and proof of income.
5. Ask for door-to-door quotes that include Australian biosecurity inspection and customs: a container takes about 10 to 14 weeks end to end.

Visa and permit fees for Australia

The fees below are the official charges for each route, per person, as published on the date shown. They are what you pay the government; agent or lawyer fees are extra. The fee that applies is usually the one in force when you submit and pay, not when you started.

Skills in Demand (subclass 482)

Temporary, employer-sponsored.

Not included: skills assessment, English test, health examinations and police certificates, which are paid to other bodies. The employer pays the nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy.

Skilled Independent (subclass 189)

Permanent, points-tested, no sponsor.

Not included: skills assessment, English test, health examinations and police certificates, which are paid to other bodies.

Work and Holiday (subclass 462), first visa

Temporary, one person; for US citizens aged 18 to 30, with no ballot. One person per application.

Not included: health examinations if asked for. A second or third visa costs AUD 1,000.

Rent, deposit and the first month

The rent figures are official statistics, not asking prices, so a new lease in a popular area often costs more. The deposit is set by law in each place, which is why it differs between cities:

• Sydney (NSW): A$780 per week (median weekly rent on new bonds, Greater Sydney, Apr–Jun 2026; NSW Rent and Sales Report, rent tables June 2026 quarter (Greater Sydney median, new bonds)). Bond at most 4 weeks’ rent (NSW Government: paying a rental bond (at most 4 weeks’ rent)).
• Melbourne (VIC): A$595 per week (median weekly rent on new lettings, metro Melbourne, June quarter 2026; Homes Victoria Rental Report, June quarter 2026 (metro Melbourne median, new lettings)). Bond at most 1 month’s rent when rent is $900 a week or less (Consumer Affairs Victoria: bond amounts and payments).

Flights, shipping and setting up

Flights are our estimate of a one-way economy fare from the US (US$700 to US$1,600 per person); type your own fare to replace it. Shipping prices are the ranges movers publish, door to door unless they say otherwise:

• Suitcases only (extra checked bags): US$100 to US$300 per person (our estimate).
• Shared container (part load): US$1,750 to US$5,000 (our estimate).
• 20 ft container (1–3 bedrooms), door to door: US$7,500 to US$11,000 (Mover price guides: Exfreight, iContainers (door to door)).

Setting up covers about two weeks of temporary accommodation, basic furniture and kitchen kit, a phone plan and local transport for the first weeks: A$4,000 to A$9,000 for one or two people, our estimate, scaled up for larger households. The buffer is the number of months you choose multiplied by your rent plus other monthly spending; most people need at least one month before the first pay arrives.

Rules that cost money after you arrive

The calculator counts what you pay to get there. These rules decide what the first year costs once you land, and most cost guides leave them out:

• Tax US citizens keep filing US returns. The US taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live, so you still file a US return after you move. The foreign earned income exclusion (US$132,900 for 2026) and credits for tax paid abroad usually remove most or all of the US bill, but only if you claim them. (IRS: foreign earned income exclusion (US citizens are taxed on worldwide income); IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 4.39: 2026 exclusion US$132,900)
• Tax Gains made before you arrive are not taxed in Australia. When you become an Australian resident, your investments are treated as bought at their market value on that day, so only growth after arrival is taxed. On a temporary visa, capital gains tax applies only to Australian property, not to investments you keep overseas. (Australian Taxation Office: how changing residency affects CGT)
• Driving licence Swap your licence within 3 months in NSW. In New South Wales, licences from the UK, Ireland, Canada and every US state are on the recognised list, so you get a NSW licence without a knowledge or driving test. Once you are a permanent resident you have 3 months to do it. Each state keeps its own list, so check yours if you are not moving to NSW. (NSW Government: knowledge and driving test exemptions (recognised countries); Service NSW: transfer an overseas driver licence (permanent residents: within 3 months))
• Health cover No Medicare on a temporary visa. The US is not one of the countries with a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, so on a temporary visa you pay full price for care. Private overseas visitor health cover is a real monthly cost to add to your budget. Medicare opens once you are a permanent resident, or have applied for permanent residency while living in Australia on a work visa. (Services Australia: Reciprocal Health Care Agreements, visiting Australia; Services Australia: enrolling in Medicare if you’re a permanent resident (or have applied for one))
• State pension Your US Social Security record still counts. The US and Australia have had a social security agreement since 1 October 2002. It stops you paying social security tax to both countries on the same pay, and lets work credits from both count towards a pension. (Social Security Administration: US international social security agreements)

Other moves

• US to Ireland
• UK to Australia
• UK to Canada
• US to Canada
• Ireland to Australia
• Ireland to Canada
• US to UK
• Australia to UK
• Canada to UK
• Ireland to UK
• UK to Ireland
• Emergency fund calculator
• Costs compared across 6 countries