Sydney Accommodation Options

If you are considering a move to Sydney you aren't one of the lucky few who have a job and a house lined up in advance then you will need to figure out your accommodation situation, pronto! Finding accommodation in Sydney is no different than in any other city and following these tips should help you out.

The first question you should ask yourself is: do I have any friends who will let me crash on their couch? Sydney is an expensive city and if you can handle living in the lounge room of a friend for a few days or longer, take advantage of any offers of hospitality by your Sydney-based friends. Not only will you save money on accommodation (although it is sometimes expected that you contribute to bills or pay a small daily fee) but you will also gain access to your friend's knowledge about the city and their group of friends. Hanging out with a friend at first is a great way to soften what can be an overwhelming blow to some new arrivals.

If you haven't got any mates in Sydney then you will need some kind of short term accommodation while you look for a more permanent house or apartment. A good, inexpensive choice for a temporary apartment is a timeshare. Though you won't find many located right in Sydney, there are many located in the quieter, more relaxed areas around Sydney. These units look exactly like apartments with large bedrooms, private balconies and full kitchens, some even including washer and dryers. You may want to consider looking for one online before you make your trip to Sydney because you'll be able to find them cheaper than if you rented directly from the resort.

Backpacker's hostels make a great interim choice between arrival and a place of your own. Many hostels in Sydney offer weekly rates which gives you a break on their otherwise expensive cost. If you are willing to stay in a dorm room you will save even more. Hostels are a great place to meet people so for new arrivals who don't know a soul, spending some time living at a backpacker's hostel is a great way to build up a network of friends. It is common for new arrivals to stay at a hostel so you will meet plenty of people in the same boat as you and might even meet potential housemates who want to rent a place with you.

Once you get sick of hostel life and want a room to yourself you will need to figure out where you want to live. There are plenty of suburbs covered in my Sydney area guide that should help but you also need to consider transportation and where you are working. You don't want to move someplace far away from work. For this reason it makes a lot of sense to find a job before you look for a house.

Unless you're loaded or find a great job you will probably need to share a house or apartment with other people. If you are really broke or want to save money then there are even options for sharing a room with people. The more people you cram into a house, the cheaper it will be and if your standards are low, you could find yourself in some seriously cheap accommodation.

There are lots of online options that will let you see what sorts of places are on the market, in what areas and for what price. The best of the bunch is Gumtree which has a Sydney-specific site offering listings on everything from jobs to stuff to sale to all kinds of accommodation. Checking out the accommodation on offer before you arrive will help you figure out what your budget will need to be for different areas and types of accommodation. Gumtree is a hugely popular website and all of the best places are scooped up quickly. If you're having no luck with them, check out one of the online flat mate finders like Easyroommate.

Sydney Accommodation Options

Before You Leave Home

New Arrivals

Money & Costs

Accommodation

Transportation

Having Fun