Your first steps in Australia with a Working Holiday Visa

One of the requirements of the Australian WHV is to arrive with at least AU$5,000 to cover your initial expenses. Proof of funds may be asked for at the airport.

It’s common sense to come with plenty of savings, regardless of what the authorities request to see. Even if you’re planning to work, there are unavoidable initial expenses, cost of living is high in Australia, and it can take a while to land a job if you’re settling in a competitive area.

If you are travelling on a tight budget, try to live in a smaller city with a lower cost of living. For example, Adelaide and Perth have generally lower living costs than their bigger counterparts, Sydney and Melbourne. We break down the pros and cons of each city in Which city should you start your Australian working holiday in?

You may also want to join a “volunteer for room and board” program like WWOOF, HelpX or Workaway. You won’t earn money but your expenses will be minimal, as you are often given free meals or access to a car, as well as the free bed to sleep in.

So, what should you budget for on your Australia WHV?

Transportation from the airport

Whether it’s a bus, train, shuttle or taxi, you’ll need to get from the airport to wherever you’re spending your first night. Look up your options and probable route in advance so you know how much to bring.

Note that some hotels and hostels offer free pickup/pickup for a nominal fee, but you will need to pre-book it before you arrive.

Temporary accommodation

Unless you’ve already found an apartment or room in advance (which we don’t recommend, as it makes you a target for a working holiday scam!), you’ll probably have to book your first few nights in Australia in a hotel, hostel or Airbnb.

Airbnb can be a cheaper option for couples/groups, and you’ll get more privacy as well. On the downside, you won’t meet other travellers as easily as in a hostel. We discuss the different options for temporary accommodation in Finding accommodation in Australia.

You also need to budget for when you find a more permanent option. To secure a room in a houseshare or an apartment, you may have to pay for several weeks’ or a month’s rent upfront, plus a deposit (amount varies depending on the landlord).

Transportation

Don’t forget that getting around costs money! Most of the time, if you live in a city with a public transportation system, you will be able to buy single-use tickets or a pass. Some cities also have prepaid cards that you tap each time you ride, and top up with money when it gets low.

The cost of your public transportation needs will depend on the city, the zone(s) you’ll be covering, the amount of days you want your pass to cover, the amount of times you take public transport per week, etc.

If you plan on living out of your vehicle or spending time mainly in rural towns, you will need to purchase a vehicle. For this, you will need to budget for the upfront cost of buying a vehicle, plus ongoing gas and maintenance costs to run the vehicle.

Day-to-day life: Groceries, Internet access, entertainment, etc.

Your grocery budget will vary depending on your plans, e.g. if you want to live in a rural town, you will have a limited choice of supermarkets to shop at. Generally speaking, the cost of food in Australian cities is not that different to big cities in Western Europe and North America—fresh produce can be particularly expensive, but you can find dried goods like pasta and rice for reasonable prices.

To stay connected, you may need to pay to use an Internet café (usually AU$4-$7/hour). Some hostels offer free Wi-Fi access, or they might charge a nominal fee. There are free Wi-Fi spots in most cities (in public libraries or fast food restaurants, for instance). However, be careful when using free Wi-Fi; do not access any private info (e.g. online banking) unless connected to a VPN to keep your details safe.

Need new clothes? Op shops (“opportunity shops”) are usually operated by a charity (Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.) and are a great way of stretching your budget. New or hardly-worn goods are donated and sold at a low price. You can also try cheap brands like TK Maxx, Target or Kmart.

For entertainment and socialising, ask around for any local recommendations to affordable, lively bars and restaurants. Many hostels run social events for free.

What about my savings at home?

It’s a wise idea to figure out a way to access your home savings account once you are in Australia, even if only in case of emergencies.

You can usually withdraw money with your foreign card, but there will be a fee and a withdrawal limit. It may be wise to notify your bank about your trip before leaving, to see if they can increase your withdrawal limit (and to make sure your card won’t be flagged for suspicious activity!).

You could transfer money from your home bank account to your Australian bank account. International bank transfers usually take as little as four days and as much as two weeks to complete, depending on the financial institution.

You can also consider using an international money-transfer service. Wise is a fast and reliable solution with exchanges rates more reasonable than most banks. As a pvtistes.net reader, you can get your first international money transfer with Wise for free.