In Australia, moving out presents a serious undertaking. When you ask yourself how much does it cost to move out, your mind starts pacing: how are you going to pack all your belongings, how hard will it be to move them, can you afford to pay a significant sum of money up-front for a safety deposit + a month’s rent ahead etc.
When people plan on moving out, they face a tremendous mental challenge from the sheer thought of all the time, effort and money it will take. We can see how it could make you anxious, which is why we’ve done our best to compile all the information you need to know about the cost of moving out in one place.
Depending on whether you want to live alone or with flatmates, moving can cost you differently. If you relocate an entire household’s worth of items, transport will be more expensive. On the other hand, if you’re only renting a single room, you’ll have fewer belongings that need packaging and relocation. Even so, you’ll have to plan out your expenses. It’s best to separate the costs into ongoing, one-time and optional groups, so you can better view the total price and where your money goes.
Moving into your new home will be a one-time thing, but your rent won’t go away. On top of your rent, you will have to consider utility bills, groceries and several other expenses. Below is a table with standard ongoing costs and the average sum Aussies spend on them monthly:
| Bills | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Internet | $70.00 |
| Phone | $45.00 |
| Gym membership | $38.00 |
| Car Insurance | $102.00 |
| Child care | $70.00 |
| Pet expenses | $50.00 |
| Personal expenses | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Groceries | $608.00 |
| Personal care | $64.00 |
| Household appliances | $60.00 |
| Health | $100.00 |
| Entertainment | $375.00 |
| Other items | $60.00 |
| Utilities | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Gas | $75.00 |
| Water | $30.00 |
| Electricity | $120.00 |
| Public transport | $120.00 |
Source of the averaging costs: Moneysmart.gov.au
You can easily apply the above information to your situation and estimate how much you will be spending after you move. The easiest corner to cut if you want to save money is entertainment. Did you know the average Aussie spends more than $300/month on recreational activities and streaming subscriptions?
When you look at the grand idea of moving out, the costs you only have to pay once are easy to list but hard to remember. This is why we’ve gone through the trouble of compiling a list for you. Common one-off moving expenses include:
Your first concern should be the safety deposit for your upcoming property contract. Landlords usually ask for a deposit equal to your rent, but you can try to negotiate a lower amount – say, 75-80% of your rent instead. The point of a deposit is to cover damage or unpaid bills in case you bail, but if you could present yourself as a caring tenant, most landlords would be open to negotiating a lower price. (Anything helps, right?)
Apart from your security deposit, tenancy contracts often have the tenant pay a month’s rent in advance, so when your monthly payments start rolling in, you’re paying for each month you’re about to use the property. It’s tough, but it’s what landlords need to feel comfortable, and there usually isn’t much you can do about it, especially if you’re desperate for a place to stay.
If your future home’s bills aren’t rolling already, you might have to pay a connection fee for gas or electricity. As for the internet – if there’s a landline already installed, and you decide to go with whatever provider the previous tenant used – you might be able to skip the connection fee. However, if you want to sign a new internet contract – you will 100% have to consider the initial fee + an extra cost for a wi-fi router if you don’t have one with you already.
If you don’t have a car – you can skip this, but if you do – you have to consider applying for a parking permit, so your car doesn’t get towed. The average price for residential parking permits in Australia can vary between $80 and $150, depending on your car’s make and model.
If you’re moving from one rented place to another, you would want to recover your old security deposit to use again, right? But to do so – you need to leave the place squeaky clean and free of pests. Pest control is best left to the professionals, but cleaning is doable on your own, if you have the time and money.
The only potential problem is that your landlord could ring you up and go: “Hey, I see you cleaned, but I want a pro cleaning team here anyway, so I’m keeping your deposit!”. As dreadful as that might sound, it’s a realistic example.
Lots of property owners want to have their places professionally cleaned regardless of whether the previous tenant cleaned themselves or not. This absolves the landlord of any responsibility if their new tenants develop health problems due to poor hygiene.
The easiest way to avoid that would be to hire an end-of-lease cleaning team that would not only clean the place to perfection but also return and clean again if your landlord isn’t satisfied. Safety deposit return – 100% guaranteed!
Book with the professionals!
Last but not at all least comes the removal service. Unless you plan on hiring a van and moving everything you own by yourself or with friends, you will need a removal service. And let’s face it – a team of professionals comes and does all the heavy lifting while you sip your tea and admire your new place. Who wouldn’t sign up?
There are a lot of expenses you can think about reducing to save some money or re-allocate your money to a more important direction – like your rent or future bills. It’s easy to fall into the trap of perfectionism and overspend on things that shouldn’t exactly be your primary concern.
A person who loves tea would need a kettle, right? But if your landlord isn’t an avid tea drinker, chances are the property won’t feature a kettle. The best way to save money on non-essentials is to consider what items your new home needs and make a list, then browse online marketplaces for used items and look for deals.
As with any rented place, furniture will be something you need. Even when you move into a fully-furnished property, you will need furniture or houseware specific to your daily routine and habits. However, most pieces of furniture are not that important from day one, and you can skip investing in them until you feel more comfortable financially.
You shouldn’t forget about the little things – personal care supplies like toilet paper, a toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, shampoo and conditioner, cleaning products, etc. You will have to stock your necessities when you move into your new home, and if you don’t put that in your budget, you might end up disappointed because you overspent.
Now that the decision has been made, it’s time to organise the process and make a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything.
Let the professionals do the cleaning, installing appliances and ensuring your new home is pest-free!
Got anything to share about moving out? Let us know in the comments section below.
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