Melbourne city is the second-largest city in Australia boosting a number of cosmopolitan, multicultural and vivacious attributes that attract expats from around the world. Located along the banks of the stunning River Yarra, Melbourne is enveloped by a sea towards its south and mountains in the north. The city is the perfect place to enjoy life to the fullest and has even been listed as the most livable place on the globe. The extensive gardens, the public parks, a reliable network of transportation, a very good standard of education, low crime rate and spacious living have made this place a thriving city for expats looking for relocation.

Melbourne is the perfect blend of a fascinating city which has European style and charm of Australian style in its culture. The city flaunts a passion for lively and social eating and drinking and thus has a vast array of bars, restaurants and cafes. A higher standard of living is what everyone gets in this sophisticated and stylish city.

What you must know before moving to Melbourne

If you are also an expat and considering moving to Melbourne, this post compiled by Move My Stuff can indeed be your must-know checklist:

Living in the city

The city of Melbourne is characterized by several hidden treasures and delights located in various alleyways and lanes. The cost of living will vary in accordance with the family size. All the utilities such as water, electricity and gas can be easily availed at the address of your choice. In terms of landscape, the city boasts some of the most amazing sceneries one can ever witness. The city offers all the luxuries that one needs to lead a good life including the vibrant café culture, selected shopping malls, art galleries, speciality stores, and eateries.

Working in the city

Since, the place is expensive to live, working here in Melbourne is necessary. The job market here is quite broad and the selection covers each and everyone right from job seekers to entrepreneurs. The chances of scoring a dream role are quite high in Melbourne; all you need to make sure is to use your networking skills and eye for the open roles. There are numerous job opportunities such as education, science, IT, healthcare, construction, and engineering. The work culture here in Melbourne is relaxed, egalitarian and informal which most expats are not accustomed to.

Commuting to and fro in Melbourne

According to a survey, 80 minutes is the average time being spent by people commuting from one place to another, be it home to work or any other and the average distance people undertake to cover in a single journey is nearly 9.8 km. About 28% of people take public transport for more than 2 hours on a daily basis.

To avail the facilities of public transport, you need to get a myki card which is a plastic travel card and carries a store value which can be topped up to resume using it. The card can either be purchased online or obtained from any of the premium stations and other outlets.

The tram network of Melbourne is the longest urban tramway network in the world with 250 km of the track covering 25 routes. Even the train runs from the outer edges of Melbourne to the internal suburbs and CBD. The train can be taken depending upon where you currently are and what is your destination. Trains are a quicker option in comparison to buses or trams. The buses also run frequently between major hotspots such as hospitals, schools, shopping centres, sports venues and other leisure places. To gain access to the regional towns, one can take Victoria’s V/Line service.

Studying in Melbourne

Because of the high standard of education maintained in the city, Melbourne is often seen as a preferable choice of the students when we talk of educational institutions. In fact, Melbourne has ranked as the second-best city to study in the world. A number of prestigious educational institutes and universities are seated in this city that offer fantastic opportunities to students. The public schools in Melbourne accept expat children with an open heart no matter the status of their Visa.

Taxation laws

When you live here you need to abide by the tax law of the land. You need to apply for a Tax File Number, TFN with the Tax Office. The tax year runs from 1^st July to 30^th June of the following year. The taxes are deducted from pay in accordance with the salary and tax slabs that are prevailing in the financial year. A Tax return needs to be filed at the end of the fiscal year. 

Wrapping up

Indeed, Melbourne is the city which is often tagged as being extremely welcoming to the expatriates. The city has been and is continuing to be the home for people who belong to more than 200 nations and nearly half of the population was either born overseas or one of their parents was born overseas. If you are also eyeing moving to Melbourne, we are sure this guide got you fully covered!