Living in Sydney

Sydney is a vibrant, international city. It is home to more than 4.5 million people and over 150 spoken languages. Situated on a spectacular harbour, this city offers an enormous variety of alfresco dining venues, public parks and outdoor activities. Residents also have free access to over 70 beaches that spread along the city’s coastline and inner harbour.

Sydney is one of the world’s most multicultural cities and, like the rest of Australia, likes to celebrate its diversity and recognise its many cultures. As Australia’s largest city, Sydney plays host to international events as well local festivals and shows. With such fine weather, outdoor events are held throughout the year across metropolitan and greater Sydney. For more information, visit www.sydney.com.

Cost of living

Compared with other major cities around the globe, living in Sydney is very affordable. Depending on your lifestyle and where you choose to live, you can expect to spend around AU$18,000 — $22,000 a year on living expenses (not including tuition fees).

Getting around

Sydney has an extensive public transport network, including trains, buses, ferries and light rail. A great place to find detailed information about fares, timetables and getting around Sydney is the Transport Info website www.131500.com.au.

Climate

Sydney has a temperate climate with warm to hot summers and cool to mild winters. Summer runs from December to February with temperatures usually ranging from 18°C to 36°C. The winter months, from June to August, see average minimum temperatures drop to around 9°C. Rainfall is moderate and the sun shines for more days of the year than not. For up-to-date information on Sydney’s weather, head to www.bom.gov.au.