If you’re looking for an experienced international moving company for your removals to Sydney, look no further. With over 25 years’ experience in overseas removals, 1st Move International offer guaranteed weekly shipping to Sydney.
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Known for its iconic landmarks like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach, Sydney has long been a hot spot for British expats. We're not surprised that it's the most popular city for our customers moving to Australia, with over 15% of all moves calling it home in 2023.
Our unique methods mean faster shipping, safer packing and smarter billing. You’ll also get a personal move manager to guide you through the process. Fill out our quick and easy form to get a free, personalised quote for your removals to Sydney.
What's on this page?
As a guide, the average price of international removals from the UK to Sydney in 2024 starts from £698 for a small move (shared container) and from £3,521 for larger moves (full 20ft container). Your final cost will depend on the size of your move and your exact destination in Sydney.
| Move Type | Shipment Size | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Move / Essentials | Part Load | £698 to £876 |
| 1-Bed House / Flat | Shared Container | £1,012 to £1,342 |
| 2-Bed House | Shared Container | £1,792 to £2,175 |
| 3-Bed House | 20ft Container | £3,521 to £3,966 |
| 4-Bed House | 40ft Container | £5,204 to £5,971 |
Prices shown are port to port freight costs and do not include UK collection or packing costs.
Request a quick free quote, or give us a call on 0117 9828 123 to get an accurate price for your removals to Sydney.
Our innovative packing and shipping methods means your items arrive swiftly and securely at your doorstep.
Shipment by sea freight is the most common method for your move to Sydney. We ship your items via a Shared Container or a Full Container, dependent on the volume and requirements of your move.
This is the most cost-effective way of shipping items to Sydney and best suited for those moving only the contents of a smaller home. You'll share container space with other customers so that you only pay for the space you take up. Our improved packing methods means we don’t have to wait for a container to be full before shipping. We offer guaranteed weekly shipping to Sydney, so you get your items quickly and safely.
Choose this option if you’re moving a large volume of goods or the contents of a 3+ bedroom property. FCL gives you exclusive use of your own 20ft or 40ft container, offering faster and safer shipping. Your container can either be loaded at your home (subject to access) or your belongings can be collected, professionally packed and loaded at our warehouse.
We remain the only removal company to use our innovative shrink-fast packing method. Not only does this eliminate third-party handling of your items, it’s the safest way to move. There's a reason why we have the lowest insurance claims records of any international removals company in the UK.
All moves from the UK to Sydney include the following for your peace of mind:
Find out what our Sydney movers have to say about our service.
O Adeniyi
Cardiff to Sydney, AustraliaSecond time I've used this company; if anything, it was even smoother than the first time (which itself was an entirely satisfactory experience). Service does everything it says on the tin. Would recommend.
Read more Australia moving reviews
A Rees
Darlington to Sydney, AustraliaThank you so much for all your help....the best service EVER! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all your help.
Read more Australia moving reviewsIt takes 50 days to ship your personal belongings from the UK to Sydney. We offer a guaranteed weekly shipping service to Sydney, and unlike other international removal companies, we don’t have to wait to fill up a container before sending your items.
The average cost to ship furniture to Sydney starts from £698 for a small shipment via shared container and from £3,521 for a full container shipment. These are just rough estimates for shipping furniture to Australia from the UK.
Your total shipping costs will be based on your destination and the size and volume of your move. Get a free, tailored quote for shipping furniture to Sydney by filling out our quick and easy form. Alternatively, call us on +44 117 9828 123 or .
You will need to apply and be accepted for a visa if you want to move to Sydney permanently and become a resident. The most common visas are; family-stream permanent visa, work-stream permanent visa or business or investor-stream permanent visa.
You will need to sort your visa before we can ship your items. It's also recommended to have a job secured and a place to stay before your move.
Between January and March and July and September are the best times to find a job in Australia, according to Universal Immigration Services. However, you can move to Sydney at any time of the year, especially with 1st Move International’s fast and safe shipping services.
Before we can ship your belongings to Sydney, we’ll need the following documents from you:
Don’t worry, all documents and forms can be confidentially uploaded via our document transfer page.
Read our detailed customs guide for Australia to find out more.
Our container tracking tool lets you track your personal belongings on their way to Sydney. You'll receive a unique tracking number once it’s left the UK and you can stay up to date on its estimated arrival time.
Yes, we can arrange to ship your car to Sydney by specialist Ro Ro (Roll on Roll off) services from Southampton or via a container. You will have to gain permission and apply for Vehicle Import Approval before you can ship your car.
One of the largest shippers of private vehicles to Sydney, Autoshippers form part of the 1st Move International group. They have over 25 years’ of experience in the industry and are on hand to guide you through the intricacies, paperwork, and customs required to safely ship your vehicle.
Sydney is popular with British expats mainly due to the similar language and culture, a better work-life balance and its warmer climate. Although it’s expensive to live in the city, many Brits are attracted to Sydney’s high quality of life, stunning nature and relaxed lifestyle. There are currently 76,000 British citizens living in Sydney, made up of a mixture of permanent residents and those on a work or student visa.
Inner City Suburbs is a popular destination for young professionals in Sydney. The Eastern Suburbs is an ideal location for those wanting to be near the beach and coastal walks, typically popular with families. When choosing where to live in Sydney, it’s important to factor in proximity to your work, schools and other important amenities. To find out more, read our Moving to Australia guide.
In 2024, the cost of living in Sydney is 15.8% more affordable than in the UK (London). Grocery shopping will cost you 20.4% more in Sydney on average and the salary is 14% less than London, but you will make savings with rent, childcare, utilities and more. Sydney is more expensive compared to other Australian cities such as Melbourne, Perth.
Below we compare the cost of living in Sydney with the UK by looking at London prices.
| Item | Sydney | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $3,270.71 (£1,694.68) | £2,170.83 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $23,115.40 (£11,976.96) | £13,403.96 |
| Monthly salary after tax | $6,207.91 (£3,216.55) | £3,732 |
| 3 course meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant | $120 (£62.18) | £80 |
| 1 litre of milk | $2.48 (£1.29) | £1.33 |
| 1kg chicken fillets | $12.58 (£6.52) | £7.41 |
| Monthly travel pass | $217.39 (£112.64) | £200 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85m2 apartment | $292.17 (£151.38) | £281.33 |
| Monthly gym membership | $88.63 (£45.92) | £45.33 |
| Monthly private preschool | $3,110 (£1,611.41) | £1,815.85 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
Sydney has experienced a recent growth in house and rental prices due to high demand in the property market. There isn’t a huge difference in the cost of renting and buying in Sydney compared to the UK, but it remains more affordable in Sydney to rent by 26.8% and to buy by 10.6%. It’s more expensive to buy and rent in Sydney than Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth.
| Item | Sydney | UK (London) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $3,270.71 (£1,694.68) | £2,170.83 |
| Monthly rent for 1-bedroom apartment outside of centre | $2,255.23 (£1,168.52) | £1,630.26 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $23,115.40 (£11,976.96) | £13,403.96 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment outside of city centre | $14,000 (£7,253.93) | £7,956.99 |
Data taken from Numbeo.
There are a range of good primary and secondary schools in Sydney as well as notable universities such as the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales. Children must attend school at age 6 and study until they are 17. Following the Australian Curriculum, Sydney schools cover the key subjects as well as extracurricular activities.
The finance sector is a significant part of the job market in Sydney. It’s home to many headquarters of many banks and insurance companies, making the city a notable financial hub of Australia. Tourism and hospitality makes up a large part of Sydney’s job market, offering jobs in bars, hotels and as tour guides. Healthcare, education and legal services are significant sectors too.
Get the latest information on UK to Australia container shipping costs and container ports.
Everything you need to know about shipping furniture & personal effects from the UK to Australia.
Whether you're looking for basic moving tips, city info, or full visa and immigration guides we've got you covered.
We ship cars too. Get more information on our car shipping service.
We post up-to-date sailing schedule information and as part of our weekly shipping promise we'll tell you in advance what ship we can get your personal effects on.
We cover all the legalities of shipping household goods from the UK to Australia.
Australian customs are known to be one of the strictest in the world so we've detailed what you can and cannot ship in to the country.
Your life, carefully wrapped, beautifully packed, and protected for the journey ahead.
We are extremely proud of our unique packing process. We are the only international removals company in the UK that uses this tried and tested method to ship your treasured personal possessions overseas.
Visit our Facebook page to find a snapshot of each shipment captured as the final pallet is wrapped.
