Migrating to Australia from Singapore: Salaries, taxes, cost of living

Australia’s famous laid back lifestyle, alongside stunning natural resources and buzzing cities make it an attractive destination for everything from a short break to a full time relocation. Plus, costs in many Australian cities can be lower than at home, without having to sacrifice solid infrastructure, healthcare options and education provisions.

Thinking of migrating to Australia from Singapore? This guide helps you consider the options for migrating to Australia, including visa options and the costs of living in some key locations compared to here in Singapore.

We’ll also touch on how you can cut the costs of your move with Wise and the Wise account. Get low cost currency exchange with no markups and no hidden fees¹, and manage your money across currencies for less. More on that later.

Table of contents
How to migrate to Australia from Singapore Visa requirements How to get a job Getting residency Cost of living Housing Manage your money after moving with Wise

How to migrate to Australia from Singapore

Australia is the closest developed English speaking country, and can offer a complete lifestyle change from the Singaporean rush to a more relaxed pace - without losing access to many of the facilities we rely on - and love - here in Singapore. It’s no wonder it’s such a popular choice for Singaporeans looking for a new adventure.

Facts about Australia

Let’s start with a few quick facts about the place you’re going to call home.

Population	26 million
Currency	Australian dollar (AUD)
Language	English
Number of expats²	8 million+, which is more than 30% of the total population
Weather³	Varied by location and season: Summer in Sydney can hit 26 degrees, winter temperatures may be just 17 degrees Melbourne summers are similar - but winter lows fall to around 13 degrees
Average salary in Australia⁴	1,923.40 AUD/week - around 100,000 AUD gross annually (around 88,500 SGD before tax)
Australia tax amount⁵	Income tax is progressive from 0%- 45% depending on earnings, + 2% medicare levy

*Information correct as of 28th August 2024

Visa requirements to migrate to Australia from Singapore

The right sort of visa for your needs will depend on what you’re planning on doing in Australia, and whether you have existing connections there. You’ll be able to check out the full range of Australian visa types online, or through a visa agent.

Here are a few important facts about 3 popular Australian visas which may be available for Singaporeans:

Student Visa, Subclass 500⁶:

• When to apply: Apply from Singapore, once you have been offered a place at an eligible institution
• Costs and fees: 1,600 AUD application fee
• Validity period: Up to 5 years, or the duration of your course, whichever is shorter
• Any other things to note? You may be able to work limited hours during your course. This visa offers multiple entry options - you can come and go from Australia when you need to

Skilled Employer Sponsored Visa, subclass 494⁷:

• When to apply: Apply from Singapore, once you have been offered a job with an employer in Australia
• Costs and fees: From 4,770 AUD
• Validity period: 5 years
• Any other things to note? Several different visa options are available depending on the status of the employer who has offered you a position. Dependents may also be able to apply for an Australia visa

Australia Business Owner Visa, subclass 890⁸:

• When to apply: You must already have been in Australia for 12 of the previous 24 months, and must have run a business in Australia for 2 years or more
• Costs and fees: From 2,890 AUD
• Validity period: Permanent
• Any other things to note? This visa offers permanent residency, and a route to citizenship

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Learn more about Australia business visas from Singapore, in this handy guide.

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How to get a job in Australia as a Singaporean

If you’re planning on migrating to Australia from Singapore for work, you’ll need to get a job lined up in advance.

Many of the jobs which are in high demand in Australia are similar to those you may find in other developed economies. However, because Australia offers some work based visas based on filling skill shortage occupations, you can also find particular positions which can increase your chances of getting the visa you need to live and work in the country.

Skills shortage lists are regularly reviewed and updated and cover short, medium and long term shortages, as well as information on local and regional shortage areas⁹. Roles cover everything from accountants and advertising managers, to chefs and chemists, and even zoologists. Well worth a look if you’re thinking of basing your visa application on employment opportunities.

Here are a few popular online platforms to consider when you’re looking for a job in Australia:

• LinkedIn - Hugely popular employment networking site
• SEEK - Australia’s number one employment platform
• Workforce Australia - Government site primarily for Australians, but packed with useful advice and information
• CareerOne - Jobs, career advice and resume writing services

Getting residency in Australia for Singaporeans

If you’re thinking of making your move to Australia permanent and are interested in becoming an Australian citizen, your first step is usually to become a permanent resident¹⁰.

If you’ve already got Australian PR status, you’ll need to apply separately to become a citizen. There’s a fee to pay, and you’ll have to remain in Australia while your application is decided. Australian citizenship is intended for people who have already spent significant time in Australia and learned about the country, and who intend to remain in Australia or keep strong links there in future.

Here are a few popular routes to PR status in Australia:

Family-stream permanent residence visa	Available if you have close relatives who are already Australian PR or citizens
Work-stream permanent residence visas	Available if you work in a skill shortage area or have an employment offer already
Business or investment visas	Available if you plan on starting a company
Retirement visas	Available if you have existing connections to Australia and intend to settle there for retirement

What else do I need to know before I migrate to Australia from Singapore?

Of course, there’s more to making a decision about relocation than just the visa and employment options. Here are some other important factors to think about:

Cost of living in Australia

Naturally, cost of living will be a big factor in where you choose to live in Australia. You could choose Melbourne’s coffee culture, or life by the beach in Sydney, and you’d get bustling city life with a laid back vibe, and an established community of Singaporean migrants to help you feel at home. Or, of course, you could look for a bigger adventure in any of Australia’s other attractive cities and countryside. As a fairly safe and cosmopolitan country, you’ll find fun wherever you head.

Costs vary a lot - but you’ll be able to find options which are somewhat cheaper than life here in Singapore, even if you pick one of the larger cities to base yourself in. Here are the headlines:

• Excluding rent, life in Melbourne is around 18.5% cheaper than in Singapore¹¹
• Including rent in Melbourne, life is a massive 29.4% lower than in Singapore, on average
• Excluding rent, Sydney is 7.9% cheaper than Singapore¹²
• Including rent in Sydney, life is 14.4% cheaper than in Singapore on average

And here’s a bit more detail on the sort of average prices you may expect¹³:

	Sydney	Melbourne
Rent - 1 bed apartment in city center	3,313 AUD (about 2,932 SGD)	2,249 AUD (about 1,990 SGD)
Utilities	300 AUD (about 265 SGD)	225 AUD (about 200 SGD)
Transport - local ticket, one way	5 AUD (about 4.5 SGD)	5.3 AUD (about 4.7 SGD)
Meal in an inexpensive restaurant	25 AUD (about 22 SGD)	25 AUD (about 22 SGD)
Cinema ticket	24 AUD (about 21 SGD)	22 AUD (about 19.5 SGD)

*Price information correct at time of research 28th August 2024. Cost of living estimates based on Numbeo’s cost of living index - learn more at Numbeo.com

Housing in Australia

Housing will be a big part of your budget once you move - but the costs can vary enormously depending on location and your personal preferences. Shopping around online sing umbrella websites which cover many different property types can give you a good feel for the options:

Here are a couple of very popular sites to look at when it’s time to get a place in Australia:

• Domain
• Real Estate Australia

Manage your money after moving to Australia from Singapore with Wise

You’ll probably open a bank account once you settle down in Australia but until you do, a Wise account can be a straightforward and low cost way to manage your AUD conversions and spending.

With a Wise account you can hold 40+ currencies, and switch between them using the mid-market rate with low fees from 0.33% as and when you need to. Plus, you get account details for select currencies including AUD and SGD to receive convenient and cost free transfers in the currencies you need, right to your Wise account.

Send money to bank accounts in 160+ countries and order a linked Wise card to make spending easy no matter where in the world you are. And once you’re settled in your new home and need to send or receive international payments, Wise can help you convert SGD to AUD or vice versa, with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees.

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Sources:

1. Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
2. Australian bureau of statistics - country of birth
3. Tourism Australia - weather
4. Australian bureau of statistics - earnings
5. Australian tax office - income tax
6. Australia government - student visa
7. Australia government - skilled employer sponsored visa
8. Australia government - business owner visa
9. Australia skilled occupation list
10. Australia government - PR visas
11. Numbeo - Melbourne v Singapore
12. Numbeo - Sydney v Singapore
13. Numbeo - Sydney v Melbourne