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Living in Sydney

Sydney is a city in Australia. In March 2026, the unemployment rate was 4.2%. Its population was 20,105 in August 2021. Foreign-born residents accounted for 14.9% of the population in 2021.

Which Australia-wide rules apply when you move to Sydney?

National rules stay on the country page instead of being relabelled as city data.

Visa and entry rulesPassport-specific entry and national residence context.BenefitsCountry-wide eligibility and official application routes.Taxes in AustraliaNational rates and thresholds that apply in Sydney.Healthcare eligibilityCountry-wide insurance and residence conditions.

Housing and cost

Median rent was A$360 per week, and median monthly mortgage repayment was A$1,618 in August 2021.

What recurs every month6 published recurring costs, € per month
Sydney recurring monthly costs, € per month€1579Private kindergarten€140Transport pass€126Utilities, 85 m² flat€54Fitness club€48Internet, 60 Mbps€21Mobile plan, 10 GB€ / month

Supplemental estimate lane; these items are not official statistics.

MetricValuePeriodSource
Fitness club membership, monthly54.3 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v211Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Internet, 60 Mbps unlimited47.84 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v211Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Private kindergarten, monthly1,579 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v211Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Meal at an inexpensive restaurant12.83 EUR31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v211Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Mobile plan, 10 GB20.84 EUR/month31 Jul 2026Cost of Living in Sydney. Jul 2026. Prices in Sydney9Commercial estimate · Supplemental context
Monthly transport pass139.5 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v211Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Basic utilities, 85 m² home125.8 EUR/month31 Dec 2022Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v211Supplemental estimate · Supplemental context
Dwellings11,380 dwellings31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
G05 Main Residential Dwellings8,225 dwellings31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
Median Weekly Rent Aud360 AUD/week10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official

Work and income

Median personal income was A$607 per week in August 2021. Median household income was A$1,190 per week in August 2021.

What is the unemployment rate in Sydney?

The unemployment rate is 4.2 % (March 2026). Source: DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 202610

Unemployment across cities in AustraliaUnemployment in Sydney is 4.2%. Of 100 cities with data, 29 have unemployment of 4 to under 5%.
unemployment rate, % · measured cities in Australia per band4 cities: 1% to under 2%41–29 cities: 2% to under 3%92–323 cities: 3% to under 4%233–429 cities: 4% to under 5%294–5Sydney 4.2%18 cities: 5% to under 6%185–69 cities: 6% to under 7%96–73 cities: 7% to under 8%37–82 cities: 8% to under 9%28–91 city: 9% to under 10%19–102 cities: 13% to under 14%213–14

Unemployment rate (%)

MetricValuePeriodSource
Employment Full Time Count3,949 people31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
Employment rate43.5 %31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
Median Household Income Aud Week1,190 AUD/week10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official
Median Personal Income Aud Week607 AUD/week10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official
Median gross salary (regional)1,377 EUR/month31 Dec 2021www.abs.gov.au8Official
Salary Net Avg Eur Month3,582 EUR/month30 Sept 2026Numbeo city cost-of-living page — /cities/au/sydney/12Community estimate · Supplemental context
Unemployment rate4.2 %country median 4.4%31 Mar 2026DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 202610Independent

Public employment service

No exact public employment office is currently linked to Sydney. The verified national service may still offer online registration, job search or an official office finder.

Country-level information

Workforce Australia — Public employment service

Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Job Search
Open official service
Open the Australia service overview

Country-level service information is not treated as proof of a physical office in Sydney. Sources checked through 11 Aug 2026.

Family and education

MetricValuePeriodSource
Language Other Than English At Home Share Percent5.47 %10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official

Language courses and integration in Sydney

1 exact course-location record is linked to this city. Check the linked source for dates, availability and enrolment.

Verified locally
1verified local records
Check courses in SydneyHow the country programme works
Exact city-linked record checked 2026-08-10. Provider-supplied records are supplemental and are not presented as official accreditation.

Climate and air quality

Is the air quality good in Sydney?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.3 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³.

Annual mean at the measuring site(s) serving the city; current-day readings differ.

  • PM2.5 — annual mean: 7.29 µg/m³ · data.airquality.nsw.gov.au3
Temperature through the yearAverage daytime high and night-time low, °C
Sydney average monthly daytime high and night-time low temperature, °C0°10°20°30°JFMAMJJASOND28°9°Daytime highNight-time low
Rainfall through the yearAverage monthly precipitation, mm
Sydney average monthly precipitation, mm0357010514081118979690124716358567167JFMAMJJASONDmm
Sunshine through the yearAverage monthly sunshine, hours
Sydney average monthly sunshine, hours05101520877776788888JFMAMJJASONDhours
Air quality vs health guidelinesAnnual means against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limits
Sydney annual air pollutant levels against WHO 2021 guidelines and EU legal limitsCity valueWHO guidelineEU limit5257.3PM2.5µg/m³

City values from the published air-quality observations. WHO 2021 guidelines and EU limit values are published constants.

PM2.5 across cities in AustraliaAnnual PM2.5 in Sydney is 7.3 µg/m³. Of 25 cities with data, 7 have annual PM2.5 of 5 to under 6 µg/m³.
annual PM2.5, µg/m³ · measured cities in Australia per band4 cities: 4 µg/m³ to under 5 µg/m³44–57 cities: 5 µg/m³ to under 6 µg/m³75–66 cities: 6 µg/m³ to under 7 µg/m³66–74 cities: 7 µg/m³ to under 8 µg/m³47–8Sydney 7.32 cities: 8 µg/m³ to under 9 µg/m³28–92 cities: 9 µg/m³ to under 10 µg/m³29–10

Annual PM2.5 (µg/m³)

MetricValuePeriodSource
PM2.5 — annual mean7.29 µg/m³31 Dec 2024data.airquality.nsw.gov.au3Official source, approximated value · Supplemental context
Average daytime high by monthJan 27.7 · Feb 27.1 · Mar 25.8 · Apr 23.4 · May 20.6 · Jun 18.1 · Jul 17.7 · Aug 19.1 · Sep 21.7 · Oct 23.6 · Nov 24.7 · Dec 26.4 °C31 Dec 2020BOM monthly climate statistics — SYDNEY AIRPORT AMO, 1991-20202Official
Average night-time low by monthJan 20 · Feb 19.9 · Mar 18.5 · Apr 15.2 · May 12.1 · Jun 9.8 · Jul 8.6 · Aug 9.3 · Sep 12 · Oct 14.4 · Nov 16.5 · Dec 18.4 °C31 Dec 2020BOM monthly climate statistics — SYDNEY AIRPORT AMO, 1991-20202Official
Average temperature by monthJan 23.7 · Feb 23.8 · Mar 22.4 · Apr 19.7 · May 16.9 · Jun 14.2 · Jul 13.6 · Aug 14.7 · Sep 17.1 · Oct 19.1 · Nov 20.8 · Dec 22.5 °C1991–2020WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station SYDNEY OBSERVATORY HILL7Official · nearest-station reading
Average precipitation by monthJan 80.7 · Feb 117.7 · Mar 96.5 · Apr 96 · May 90 · Jun 124.3 · Jul 71.4 · Aug 63.4 · Sep 58.1 · Oct 55.8 · Nov 71.2 · Dec 67.3 mm31 Dec 2020BOM monthly climate statistics — SYDNEY AIRPORT AMO, 1991-20202Official
Average sunshine by monthJan 7.5 · Feb 7.1 · Mar 6.8 · Apr 7.1 · May 6.6 · Jun 5.7 · Jul 6.7 · Aug 8 · Sep 8.1 · Oct 7.9 · Nov 7.5 · Dec 7.6 hours31 Dec 2020BOM monthly climate statistics — SYDNEY AIRPORT AMO, 1991-20202Official

Cities of a similar size in Australia

Closest published populations, for a like-for-like comparison.

All Australia cities
Wangaratta19,882 residentsKempsey20,569 residentsGriffith19,255 residentsGoulburn21,087 residentsWhyalla21,154 residentsCentral Coast18,484 residents

Population and city profile

The city covered 4,196.3 km² in 2016. Population density was 1,157.8 people per km² in 2021.

How many people live in Sydney?

The published population was 20,105 people in August 2021. Source: 2021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4

MetricValuePeriodSource
City area4,196 km²1 Jul 2016Official ASGS2016 SUA area from ABS ArcGIS attributes, area_albers_sqkm. Exact queue geography; not GCCSA or LGA.5Official
Foreign-resident share21.2 %31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics1Official
Foreign residents1,958,674 people10 Aug 2021Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality.4Official
Population density1,158 people/km²30 Jun 2021Reproducible exact-ASGS2016-SUA density: ABS ERP at 30 June 2021 divided by ABS ASGS2016 SUA area. Existing local population baseline is only a recovered cross-check; no GCCSA/LGA observation.6Official
Population Female10,354 people31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
Population Male9,748 people31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
Population20,105 people10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official
Population over time25 published observations, 2001–2025
Population in Sydney by year, residents14,49616,64318,78920,93620012005201120152021202520,492residents

Population rose 37.2% between 2001 and 2025, from 14,940 to 20,492.

International community in Sydney

Named groups from exact city-grain official distributions. Citizenship, birthplace, language and ancestry answer different questions and stay separate.

Country of birth

Persons usually resident in the ABS Significant Urban Area; 2021 Census G01 total persons denominator · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total persons20,105100.0%
Australia15,84178.8%
Elsewhere (excludes country of birth not stated)2,99914.9%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source4

Country of birth

Persons usually resident in the ABS Significant Urban Area; 2021 Census G09 PERSONS total across age groups and sex · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total20,105100.0%
Australia15,84178.8%
Country of birth not stated1,2616.3%
England1,0225.1%
Born elsewhere(d)3331.7%
New Zealand2801.4%
Germany1330.7%
Scotland1090.5%
Philippines990.5%
Italy880.4%
Greece860.4%
Show 37 more groups
Published groupPeopleShare
United States of America830.4%
Netherlands640.3%
Croatia600.3%
Malta580.3%
Ireland570.3%
South Africa530.3%
China (excludes SARs and Taiwan)(c)420.2%
Poland370.2%
Wales340.2%
Canada310.2%
India300.1%
Chile290.1%
Fiji210.1%
France210.1%
Thailand210.1%
Vietnam210.1%
Indonesia180.1%
Singapore170.1%
Zimbabwe170.1%
Egypt140.1%
Malaysia140.1%
Nepal140.1%
Brazil120.1%
Japan120.1%
North Macedonia120.1%
Cambodia80.0%
Hong Kong (SAR of China)(c)80.0%
Mauritius80.0%
Papua New Guinea80.0%
Korea, Republic of (South)70.0%
Lebanon70.0%
Bangladesh60.0%
Iraq60.0%
Sri Lanka50.0%
Bosnia and Herzegovina30.0%
Pakistan30.0%
Samoa30.0%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source4

Citizenship

Persons usually resident in the ABS Significant Urban Area; 2021 Census G01 total persons denominator · 2021 Census

Published groupPeopleShare
Total persons20,105100.0%
Australian citizen18,18990.5%

Largest published groups; zero-count groups are omitted. Dimensions are source-native and are never merged. Official source4

Is Sydney a good place to live?

There is no universal answer. The profile scores below show who the available published evidence may suit; they are a decision aid, not a personal recommendation.

Try your profile
Remote worker37%strong on work, weak on safety · range 27–47%
Skilled employee49%strong on legal route, weak on safety · range 41–57%
Student40%strong on education, weak on safety · range 32–48%
Family48%strong on family, weak on safety · range 39–57%
Retirement48%strong on air quality, weak on admin · range 35–61%
Foreign residents1,958,674 people10 Aug 2021Official source · Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality.
Population20,105 people10 Aug 2021Official source · 2021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia
Dwellings11,380 dwellings31 Dec 2021Official source · Australian Bureau of Statistics
Employment rate43.5 %31 Dec 2021Official source · Australian Bureau of Statistics
Median gross salary (regional)1,377 EUR/month31 Dec 2021Official source · www.abs.gov.au
Unemployment rate4.2 %31 Mar 2026Independent source · DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 2026
Every value keeps its source, geographic scope and verification date · Last checked 2026-09-05

Additional context

MetricValuePeriodSource
Residents born abroad14.92 %10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official
Households8,225 households31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
Labour force participation rate46 %31 Dec 2021Australian Bureau of Statistics4Official
Median age50 years10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official
Median Monthly Mortgage Repayment Aud1,618 AUD/month10 Aug 20212021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia4Official

Yes — migrants can receive medical care in Sydney when the national insurance or residence conditions are met.

Healthcare access follows the country-wide insurance rules; local capacity facts remain city data and are not used as proof of eligibility.

Open the official coverage guide
Country rule verified 2026-08-03.

Common questions

Answered from the published values on this page, each with its source and date.

How many people live in Sydney?

The published population was 20,105 people in August 2021. Source: 2021 Census General Community Profile — Significant Urban Areas, Australia.

Is the air quality good in Sydney?

The annual PM2.5 mean is about 7.3 µg/m³ (2024) — above the WHO 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³ but within the EU limit of 25 µg/m³. Source: data.airquality.nsw.gov.au.

What is the unemployment rate in Sydney?

The unemployment rate is 4.2 % (March 2026). Source: DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 2026.

What is the typical salary around Sydney?

The median gross salary is 1,377 EUR/month. Source: www.abs.gov.au.

How many foreign residents live in Sydney?

1,958,674 people residents hold a foreign nationality. Source: Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality..

How much is public transport in Sydney?

A monthly transport pass is 139.5 EUR/month. This is a supplemental estimate, not an official municipal measurement. Source: Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2.

Is Sydney a good place to live?

Sydney may suit different people for different reasons. The page's profile scores compare published cost, work, housing, safety, healthcare and other available factors; they are a decision aid, not a universal recommendation.

How many people born in Australia live in Sydney?

The official country of birth distribution records 15,841 people (78.8%) in the source-defined population for 2021 Census. This is a country of birth measure, not a general estimate of ethnicity or migration status.

Cite this page

Open a format to select or copy this ImmigrationDB compilation citation. The native disclosure and text fallback work without JavaScript.

APA citation
ImmigrationDB. (2026, September 12). Sydney, Australia: rent, salary, jobs, taxes [ImmigrationDB compilation; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0]. ImmigrationDB. https://immigrationdb.com/cities/au/sydney/ Retrieved 2026-09-12. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX citation
@misc{immigrationdb_immigrationdb_sydney-australia-rent-salary-jobs-taxes_8e6782413ad6,
  author = {ImmigrationDB},
  title = {Sydney, Australia: rent, salary, jobs, taxes},
  publisher = {ImmigrationDB},
  year = {2026},
  date = {2026-09-12},
  version = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  snapshot = {approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0},
  url = {https://immigrationdb.com/cities/au/sydney/},
  note = {Retrieved 2026-09-12. ImmigrationDB compilation. Compilation license: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/},
}
Markdown citation
[Sydney, Australia: rent, salary, jobs, taxes](https://immigrationdb.com/cities/au/sydney/) — ImmigrationDB; ImmigrationDB; snapshot approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; version approved-static-d7ed373c115d60d0; retrieved 2026-09-12; built 2026-09-12.

This citation identifies the ImmigrationDB compilation/page. Underlying source publishers and datasets retain their own terms; inspect the Sources section and cite those records separately. View the underlying source records.

Sources

JSON Markdown
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics abs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-03
  2. BOM monthly climate statistics — SYDNEY AIRPORT AMO, 1991-2020 BOM monthly climate statistics · bom.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26
  3. data.airquality.nsw.gov.au data.airquality.nsw.gov.au · checked 2026-08-26
  4. Official 2021 Census GCP G01 Birthplace_Elsewhere_P: persons born outside Australia, at exact associated 2021 SUA grain. This is foreign-born, not foreign nationality. abs.gov.au · checked 2021-08-10
  5. Official ASGS2016 SUA area from ABS ArcGIS attributes, area_albers_sqkm. Exact queue geography; not GCCSA or LGA. geo.abs.gov.au · checked 2016-07-01
  6. Reproducible exact-ASGS2016-SUA density: ABS ERP at 30 June 2021 divided by ABS ASGS2016 SUA area. Existing local population baseline is only a recovered cross-check; no GCCSA/LGA observation. abs.gov.au · checked 2021-06-30
  7. WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 — station SYDNEY OBSERVATORY HILL WMO Climatological Normals 1991-2020 · ncei.noaa.gov · checked 2026-07-31
  8. www.abs.gov.au abs.gov.au · checked 2026-08-27
  9. Cost of Living in Sydney. Jul 2026. Prices in Sydney numbeo.com · checked 2026-07-27
  10. DEWR — Small Area Labour Markets, smoothed unemployment rate by LGA, March quarter 2026 DEWR · dewr.gov.au · checked 2026-07-26
Show 2 more sources
  1. Global Cost of Living — Kaggle snapshot v2 Global Cost of Living · kaggle.com · checked 2026-07-27
  2. Numbeo city cost-of-living page — /cities/au/sydney/ Numbeo city cost-of-living page · de.numbeo.com · checked 2026-09-05

Spotted a number that looks wrong? Every value here carries its source and date — tell us what you found and we will re-check it against the source.