Moving to Sydney? Top 10 Insider Tips for Living in Sydney

26th November, 2023

moving to sydney
Moving to Sydney? Top 12 Insider Tips to Living in Sydney

Are you planning on moving to Sydney? Although the average cost of living in Sydney makes it one of the more expensive cities to live in Australia, people flock there – and for good reason!

Home to stunning beaches, enviable weather, beautiful national parks, a rich variety of entertainment and dining out options, renowned tourist attractions, and an overall excellent quality of life, Sydney is a world-class global city that impresses all who enter it. Rest assured, there are always plenty of fun things to do in Sydney! Not only that, but as the economic and financial centre of Australia, it truly is a ‘professional’s paradise’ – offering countless business and networking opportunities for ambitious start-ups and entrepreneurs.

Whether you are moving to Sydney for personal or professional reasons, living in a world-famous, bustling international city like Sydney may feel overwhelming at first. However, with a bit of research and preparation, those pre-move nerves will quickly be replaced with sheer enthusiasm and excitement for the big move.

To get you started on what living in Sydney can be like, we’ve compiled 10 Insider Tips that will have you all set to go once you land in Australia’s largest, and most vibrant cosmopolitan city. Get excited!

1. The Public Transport in Sydney is Impressive

It’s well known that the cost of living in Sydney is expensive, much like any other international city. Knowing this, a great way to explore Sydney (and save a little money in the process) is by catching public transport wherever possible.

Called Transport for NSW, the Sydney public transport system is impressively sized with well-established infrastructure, making it easy for locals and visitors to get around Sydney or regional NSW by metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail and coach.

You will need an Opal smartcard to get you around NSW if you haven’t got one already. Opal is the smartcard ticketing system used to pay for travel on public transport in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter region and Illawarra. Simply add value before you travel and tap on/off to pay your fare.

2. Want things to do in Sydney? Get there cheaply with Opal Daily Cap!

Once you have your Opal card, there are saving benefits to enjoy and utilise. For instance, you can enjoy a 30% discounted fare on metro/train, bus and light rail services when travelling on weekends and public holidays. There’s also daily and weekly travel caps so if you’re travelling a lot it can actually be cheaper per fare.
You can map out where you want to go on the Transport for NSW website, so start working on your Trip Planner now!

3. Unrivalled Sydney Nightlife

After moving to Sydney, you will quickly discover that the nightlife here is in a league of its own, offering diverse options from family-friendly restaurants and classy fine dining to eclectic hidden bars, live gigs at pubs and glitzy nightclubs. Not sure where to start? Start simple.

Here’s some great things you can do to kick off your time in Sydney at night:

  • Enjoy live bands, rock, jazz and world music at the Oxford Art Factory, the Lansdowne Hotel, Camelot Lounge or The Vanguard.
  • Watch an outdoor movie at the Moonlight Outdoor Cinema or OpenAir Cinema in the Royal Botanic Garden.
  • Book a Sunset Cruise on the Sydney Harbour.
  • Check out the Vivid Light, Music and Ideas Festival.
  • Have a drink and soak up the views at the Sydney Opera House’s Opera Bar.
  • Head to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for a game or event (and when it’s pre-game, check out the Entertainment Quarter next door!)
  • Enjoy headline acts at one of Sydney’s iconic theatres at The Enmore Theatre, The Metro Theatre or The Hordern Pavilion to name but a few.

4. Hit the Farmers Markets Sydney Has to Offer!

One of the many perks of living in a multicultural, global city like Sydney is the impressive array of farmer’s markets and community events on offer, and there is a lot!

Take a break from purchasing at big supermarket chains and enjoy perusing all the colourful farm-to-plate produce on display. It’s also the perfect social outing, often filled with live music, and a sense of a community coming together – where you can browse to your heart’s content for homemade items, sustainable products, second-hand fashion, crafts, gifts, and fresh produce at one of the many eclectic farmers markets that can be found throughout Sydney.

There are plenty of gorgeous markets to choose and meander through, such as:

5. Explore the Beautiful Sydney Walks

One of the best ways to explore Sydney up-close and personal is by foot – where you are guaranteed to hit that 10,000 daily step goal!

You can even learn while you walk; by joining on one of the free, guided walking tours on offer in Sydney’s city centre and The Rocks. A fantastic option to get cardio-fit, learn local knowledge and make some new friends all-in-one.

These tours offer a wealth of local knowledge, covering the history of Sydney and diving into background information on major sites and landmarks that you might have otherwise not known about if you were doing your walk independently.

Some top recommendations are:

  • Sydney Local Greeters
  • Free Tours Sydney
  • I’m Free Walking Tours
  • The Rocks Walking Tours
  • Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Free Guided Walks

When it comes to self-guided walking options, you will be impressed with Sydney’s many scenic coastal walks and hikes on offer in and around the city (too many to list here, as a matter of fact!).

Bask in the outdoor air with some of these walking trail options:

  • Glebe Foreshore Walk
  • Bondi to Coogee
  • Bondi to Bronte
  • Jibbon Beach Loop Track
  • Watsons Bay to Hornby Lighthouse
  • Hermitage Foreshore Walk
  • Spit Bridge to Manly
  • Manly Scenic Walkway
  • Rose Bay to Watsons Bay
  • Bradleys Head to Chowder Bay
  • Royal National Park Coast Track

6. Get Around With Sydney Cycleways

Sydney is a bike-friendly city; offering many wonderful scenic cycleways, bike lanes, shared paths, and idyllic tracks for cyclists to navigate and discover. It is also very easy to hire a bike in the city centre to get around – so it’s no wonder why cycling is such a popular activity in Sydney!

Start getting your heart and senses pumping with these cycling destinations:

  • Centennial Parklands
  • Parramatta Valley Cycleway
  • Olympic Park Circuit
  • Cooks River Cycleway
  • The Bay Run
  • Narrabeen Lagoon Trail
  • M7 Cycleway
  • Tempe to Kurnell
  • Three Gorges
  • Loftus Loop Trail
  • Akuna Bay

If you are moving to Sydney and living relatively close to the city centre or your workplace, then consider purchasing a bicycle. It is a practical solution to getting around this beautiful city both affordably and quickly – without the pain of peak hour traffic!

7. Pop Into the Free Museums Sydney Has to Offer

When living in Sydney, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to entertainment and activities to see and do. However, it need not be an expensive affair. Whether you’re looking for things to do in Sydney with kids that won’t break the bank, or something that’ll pique your own curiosity, there’s still plenty to choose from.

Visiting a museum, exhibition or art gallery can be entertaining and educational for kids and adults alike, and it’s a great activity to do on a lazy afternoon. Many of these places offer free admission too – but do double check their website to see the finer details and what is (and not) included.

Some of Sydney’s excellent, must-see museums and galleries include:

  • Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
  • Chau Chak Wing Museum
  • Australian National Maritime Museum
  • The Rocks Discovery Museum
  • Art Gallery of NSW
  • Australian Museum
  • White Rabbit Gallery
  • State Library of NSW Galleries
  • La Perouse Museum

8. Visit Bustling Chinatown Sydney!

Where’s a place (in any city) that you can always count on for cheap meals that are as delicious as they come? Chinatown! If you like authentic and diverse Asian cuisine at a cheap price, then you’re in for good luck, because moving to Sydney means having Australia’s largest Chinatown on your doorstep.

Renowned for its affordable food, lively markets, grocery shops and world-class entertainment, Sydney’s vibrant and impressively sized Chinatown will not disappoint your eyes, stomach, nor deplete your bank balance.

Some of the highly rated “cheap eats” in Chinatown include:

  • Chinatown Noodle King Restaurant
  • Mother Chu’s Taiwanese Gourmet
  • Nanjing Dumplings
  • Mr Chen Beef Noodle
  • Cho Dumpling King
  • Mrs Chan’s Kitchen
  • XI’an Cuisine
  • Emperor’s Garden Restaurant (go inside or line up for their famous Emperor’s Puffs)
  • Yang San Park
  • Butchers Buffet

Sydney is also home to the most spectacular Lunar New Year event (and celebrations) in Australia. A nod to the many cultures of Sydney – including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Korean communities – the Lunar New Year starts 1 February and consists of month-long events, street parades, art-installations, celebrations, dragon and lion dancing, pop-up food stalls and much more.

9. Worthwhile Day Trips From Sydney

Once you have settled into Sydney, don’t waste time in venturing beyond the CBD fringes and seeing what New South Wales has to offer. Especially if you like wine, meandering through historic outback towns and dramatic landscape scenery!

Some excellent New South Wales destinations to explore outside of Sydney are:

  • Blue Mountains & Katoomba Township
  • Byron Bay
  • Waterfall Way, Dorrigo National Park
  • Port Macquarie
  • Narrabri
  • Hunter Valley
  • Port Stephens
  • Newcastle
  • Avoca Beach
  • Mudgee, Central Tablelands
  • Lithgow
  • Kangaroo Valley
  • Jervis Bay
  • Snowy Mountains, Thredbo Resort
  • A cheeky 3-hour drive into Canberra – why not?

You are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to great weekend escape ideas in New South Wales, and all are within driving distance from Sydney. Sure, some may be longer in distance than others, but who doesn’t love planning a road trip for an upcoming 3-day public holiday?

H2: 10. Finding Rental Properties in Sydney

If you are moving to Sydney with a view to rent for a while, it should come as no surprise to hear that accommodation in the city centre itself will be expensive.

Given that public transport in Sydney is impressively efficient, you can save yourself a considerable amount of rent money if you decide to live on the fringes of the CBD, or even a little further out.

Some competitively priced suburbs to rent around Sydney include:

However, the above suburbs are just a snapshot! Always do your own research, compare prices and seek a professional opinion. If you do decide to rent in the city centre, consider opting for shared accommodation to make it easier.

Conclusion? Living in Sydney is a Great Move!

Whether you are moving interstate, relocating to Sydney from overseas, or moving within NSW – moving to Sydney will tick all your boxes. Not only that, but it can be surprisingly easy on the wallet if you plan and budget ahead; and opt to incorporate some of the many free and affordable activities on offer in Sydney.

Indeed, from its bustling city centre, rugged Blue Mountains, wine regions, outback towns, rainforests – to its Snowy Mountains, coastal cities, golden beaches and national parks – Sydney and New South Wales has it all.

But why rush it? Take it one day at a time with our secure storage options and enjoy your time living in Sydney!

Living in Sydney FAQs

Living in Sydney vs Brisbane: Which is better?

While both cities have their charms, which one is better depends on what you’re after.

Brisbane is smaller, so if you like a city that’s quicker to get around, this is something to consider. It’s also closer to the equator than Sydney, so while both are humid cities, Brisbane is a few degrees hotter. Generally speaking, housing is more affordable in Brisbane too, so if you’re looking for something a little bigger at a lower price point, it could be a good choice.

Ultimately though, it depends on what’s most important to you, so take time to research, and for a deeper dive, check out our blog about living in Brisbane!

Living in Sydney vs Melbourne: Which is better?

When it comes to Sydney vs Melbourne, there’s definitely some strong opinions!

Whether it’s coffee, trams, arts and culture, Melbournites will tell you that their city wins hands-down. But for beautiful beaches, the scenic harbour, less erratic weather and famous landmarks, Sydneysiders definitely feel like the winners.

The thing is though, both cities have their charms, and you need to think about what suits your lifestyle better. Do your research, weigh up the pros and cons of each, and when you’re ready to move we’ll get you there!

For a deeper dive on what it’s like to live in Melbourne, check out our blog post about moving to Melbourne where we give you the inside scoop!

H2: Moving To Sydney? Hire a Professional Removalist

Whether you’re moving from Sydney, or to Sydney – you can trust Kent Removals & Storage to get you there! Our Kent Sydney Removalists have you covered.

Book your move to Sydney with Kent or call: 13 55 31 now.

Blog Author:

Tahnee Arlt

Blog Author Tahnee Arlt