Australia · Visit or make it home

Sydney

Sydney is a city in Australia. Compare its dated local facts and monthly climate before choosing a time to visit or planning a move. Housing references and national earnings describe different populations; verify the costs of your own home and job before deciding.

Sydney — Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge Dusk (2) 2019-06-21

Get to know Sydney

A sense of the place

Sydney is the capital of the state of New South Wales and the largest city in Australia. The metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west, and about 80 kilometres from Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Hawkesbury River in the north and north-west, to the Royal National Park and Macarthur in the south and south-west. Greater Sydney consists of 658 suburbs, spread across 33 local government areas. Residents of the city are colloquially known as "Sydneysiders". The estimated population in June 2025 was 5,638,830, which is about 66% of the state's population. The city's nicknames include the Emerald City and the Harbour City. There is evidence that Aboriginal Australians inhabited the Greater Sydney region at least 30,000 years ago, and their engravings and cultural sites are common. The traditional custodians of the land on which modern Sydney stands are the clans of the Darug, Dharawal and Eora.

Weather through the year

When to visit Sydney

Temperature

January has the warmest monthly average (22.9°C); July is coolest (14.0°C). These averages include nights, so daytime highs can be considerably warmer.

Rain and outdoor plans

February averages about 134 mm of rain, compared with 43 mm in September. For an outdoor-focused trip, compare the drier months before choosing dates.

Planning time outdoors

April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December combine monthly mean temperatures of 12–22°C with less than 100 mm of precipitation. These are useful dates to compare for a walking-focused visit; check daylight, opening times and the forecast for your actual trip.

Monthly climate averages — 2001-2020
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average °C22.922.821.819.817.115.114.014.516.618.419.921.4
Rain, mm83134104735487444743648372

Source: NASA POWER climatology · Reference period: 2001-2020. Long-term averages for the surrounding grid area. Conditions vary within a city; monthly averages are neither a forecast nor a guarantee of dry days.

Places around Sydney

Build your shortlist for a day out. Distances are straight-line from the city centre; check routes and opening times before setting off.

Average rent in Sydney

What is the average rent in Sydney?

A verified average rent for Sydney is not available in the evidence shown here. Do not substitute another city’s price or a national estimate. Compare current properties for the same home size and neighbourhood, then include utilities, deposits and daily transport when building a budget for a visit or move.

Average salary in Sydney

What is the average salary in Sydney?

4,436.2 USD/month is the gross employee-pay reference dated 2021. It describes Australia, not average salary in Sydney. Gross pay is before deductions; household earnings depend on the household model. Use a current offer and your own tax circumstances for take-home budgeting.

Source: ILO — Average gross monthly earnings of employees · Reference date: 2021 · CC BY 4.0 (ILO datasets published from 3 May 2023)

How should I compare Sydney with another city?

Compare the same dated measures for both cities, keeping local observations separate from national context. Start with rent, your expected income and the journeys you will make regularly. Then adjust the comparison weights to your priorities. Missing measurements do not prove an advantage; verify decisive costs and services with current local sources.

  1. Choose a comparison below and read its sources and dates.
  2. Set priorities for housing, work, transport and climate.
  3. Check current listings and your own income before making a decision.

Data sources, licences & reuse terms

Plan your stay

Budget and everyday decisions

A holiday budget

Compare accommodation for your actual dates in Sydney, then add the journey here, airport transfers, meals and the activities you want. A cheap room outside the centre can cost more overall if it adds daily transport.

Compare holiday preferences →

A relocation budget

Use the planner below to compare housing, daily spending and the cost of your move.

Include the deposit, utilities, internet and commuting. Compare those costs with your own expected take-home income.

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Your relocation planning budget

Build a monthly budget for Sydney in euros. Totals are calculated from the amounts below, not live quotes. Enter a housing amount for your chosen home.

Monthly total: Enter all five monthly amounts

First month including move: Enter your moving costs too

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Compare the details

Sydney at a glance

Australia: the wider context

These are country-level figures, not measurements of Sydney. Use them to compare national conditions; neighbourhoods, salaries and individual services can differ substantially.

See 10 national indicators

Other places to compare in Australia

What to check before deciding

Comparable figures are not available here for: Monthly rent, 1-bedroom, city centre; Distance to nearest sea / coastline; Distance to nearest mountains (>1500 m); Seismic hazard (ordinal 0 very-low to 4 high); Public-transport provision (ordinal proxy); Annual sunshine hours. Check the items that affect your plans with local providers. They are not treated as zero or as an advantage in recommendations.

Compare Sydney with other cities

Read the source dates, choose your priorities and keep unavailable values separate from costs you know.

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