City Guide
Sydney
Sydney is Australia's biggest city — harbour beaches, world-class food, and a buzzing job market. Brits feel right at home with familiar coffee culture, English-speaking workplaces, and easy weekend trips to the Blue Mountains.
Life in Sydney
Neighbourhoods
Bondi
Iconic beach suburb, lively cafés, expat-heavy.
Surry Hills
Hip inner-city, bars, terraced houses, creative crowd.
Manly
Northern Beaches gem, ferry to the city, family-friendly.
Newtown
Bohemian, bookshops, vintage stores, great pubs.
Top attractions
Local transport
Sydney runs on the Opal card — tap on/off trains, buses, ferries and light rail. Ferries from Circular Quay to Manly are a must. The metro is expanding rapidly. Driving is feasible but tolls add up; most expats go car-free in inner suburbs.
Cost of living
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bed apartment (inner) | AUD $650/wk |
| Weekly groceries | AUD $150 |
| Coffee | AUD $5 |
| Pint of beer | AUD $12 |
| Monthly transport | AUD $217 |
| Gym membership | AUD $80/mo |