How Much Does It Cost to Move Out of Home?

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.

Moving out costs

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.

Ongoing costs

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:

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?

One-off costs

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:

Safety deposit

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?)

A month’s rent

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.

Utility connection charges

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.

Parking permit

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.

Domestic services

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!

Removal service

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?

Non-essential payments

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.

Additional costs to consider

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.

Moving out checklist

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.

1. Rainy-day fund – Not everybody can afford to spare a large sum of money and forget about it. Still, if you can set aside some cash before you move out, you wouldn’t be in the wrong. Bad luck can strike anybody, and you never know what kind of emergency you might find yourself in, so plan ahead because parents might not always be able to help.
2. Area research – Get to know the area you’re about to move to. Think about your commute and public transport options. It’s a good idea to go on a short trip and see the area for yourself. If you own a car, a simple but smart idea is to scout out your desired place’s street during nighttime. That way, you can see how many parking spots are available during resting hours.
3. Affordability – Using all the information in the previous sections, calculate your average monthly income, and remember to factor in any ongoing costs as well as one-time expenses to come up with a rough estimate of how much you can afford to pay for rent.
4. Furnishing options – It’s easier to rent a furnished place, but the price will be higher, so check your options – is it worth paying $100 less per month if you have to give up the dryer and wait for your clothes to air-dry? Or maybe you can afford to pay a bit more, but get a place with a fully-equipped kitchen, which would save you both time and money in the long run.
5. Raising extra money – You can sell any belongings you don’t need or wish to get rid of to help put some extra money towards your move-out plan.
6. Paying bills – This is a no-brainer, but you shouldn’t try to move without covering any previous bills. If you’re moving out of your parents’ home, they may have let you live with them for free. But if you share the bills, don’t try to avoid compensating your parents for your last month’s stay unless they specifically tell you it’s okay.
7. Address lines – You should notify certain authorities or organisations when moving, such as the Post, your G.P., bank and insurance provider.
8. Utilities – You can plan your electricity, gas, water or internet connections to save time. If you can, schedule all the connections for the same day so you can get it over with and move on to enjoying your new home.

Takeaways

Got anything to share about moving out? Let us know in the comments section below.