Moving to Melbourne
Melbourne is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Whether you're relocating from interstate or overseas, this guide walks you through the essentials of making Melbourne your new home.
Visa & Immigration Essentials
For international arrivals, Australia's Department of Home Affairs manages visa applications. Popular pathways include the Skilled Migration Program (subclass 189/190), Student Visas (subclass 500), and Working Holiday Visas (subclass 417). Start your application well in advance: processing times vary significantly.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Airport (MEL / Tullamarine) is the main international gateway, about 22 km north-west of the CBD. The SkyBus runs express services to Southern Cross Station in the city (≈20 min, ~$20 one-way). Avalon Airport (AVV) near Geelong serves some domestic routes and budget carriers: the Avalon SkyBus connects to Southern Cross Station (≈50 min).
First Week Checklist
- TFN (Tax File Number): Apply online through the Australian Taxation Office: required for any paid work.
- Medicare: Eligible residents from reciprocal healthcare countries can enrol at a Medicare Service Centre.
- Bank Account: The Big Four (Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB, ANZ) plus ING and Up Bank offer easy online opening before arrival.
- Myki Card: Your all-in-one travel card for trams, trains, and buses. Buy at any 7-Eleven, station machine, or online.
- Phone & Internet: Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, and MVNOs like Boost, Aldi Mobile, and Amaysim offer prepaid SIMs.
Finding Accommodation
The rental market moves fast: start your search on Domain, Realestate.com.au, or Flatmates.com.au for share houses. Be prepared with ID, proof of income, and a rental ledger (history of on-time payments). See our Melbourne Rental Guide for detailed tips.
Getting Around
Melbourne's public transport network (trams, trains, buses) is extensive and run by Public Transport Victoria. The CBD and inner suburbs are very walkable and bike-friendly. Read our Transport Guide for full details.
Neighbourhoods at a Glance
- Inner City: Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond: lively bars, cafes, and culture.
- Bayside: St Kilda, Brighton, Elwood: beachside living with village feel.
- Family Belt: Camberwell, Glen Iris, Malvern: great schools, parks, quiet streets.
- Northern Suburbs: Brunswick, Thornbury, Northcote: artsy, multicultural, affordable.
- Outer Growth: Werribee, Cranbourne, Tarneit: newer estates, more space, lower cost.
Explore our Suburbs Guide for deeper dives.
Cost of Living Snapshot
A single person can expect around $3,500 — $5,000/month in inner suburbs (rent inclusive) or $2,500 — $3,500 in outer suburbs. Our Cost of Living Guide breaks it all down.
Where Newcomers Settle
New arrivals cluster by stage of life. Students and young professionals take the inner ring — Carlton, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Brunswick — where share-house rooms run $200–$400 a week and trams reach the city in 15 minutes. Families favour the middle ring — Camberwell, Glen Waverley, Moonee Ponds, the bayside — for schools and parks. Budget-conscious newcomers increasingly start in the growth corridors of the west and north, where 3-bedroom houses rent for $450–$600 a week.
The 2026 advice: choose your suburb around the train or tram line first. Melbourne’s rail network is the most extensive in Australia, and a station within 10 minutes’ walk is worth $100+ a week in rent savings versus a bus-dependent suburb.
The First Month, Step by Step
Week one: TFN application online, bank account (the Big Four plus digital banks like Up and ING), and a Myki card. Week two: secure your rental and connect utilities — electricity and NBN internet within days, water via the state’s retail water companies. Week three: register with a GP, join a super fund, and convert your driver licence at VicRoads if you plan to drive. Week four: start the job hunt and explore your new suburb on foot.
Budget around $4,000–$7,000 for the setup phase: 4 weeks’ bond, 2 weeks’ rent advance, furniture, and connections. Melbourne is cheaper to establish in than Sydney — the bond and rent advance are the big-ticket items, so arrive with the buffer ready.
The Weather Adjustment
Melbourne’s climate is the most changeable in Australia — the “four seasons in one day” reputation is earned. The practical adaptation is layering: a t-shirt, a jumper, and a waterproof jacket cover 90% of the year. Summers bring heatwaves (35–43°C) broken by dramatic “cool changes”; winters are grey and drizzly with highs of 13–14°C but rarely freezing.
The lifestyle consequence is that Melbourne is an indoor-and-cafe city: the laneways, arcades, and European-style cafes exist because the weather pushes people into them. Pack for layers, buy a good rain jacket, and embrace the changeability — the locals do, and it is part of the city’s charm.