Sydney is both a light-hearted beachside town and a booming metropolis that parades some of the best landmarks, surfing, and dining.
Overview
Sydney is the most multicultural city in the Southern Hemisphere, accommodating more than 200 different languages, with more than 40 percent of the population speaking a language other than English at home. Sydney’s melting pot of cultures produced a wild mix of European logic, Asian aesthetics, and Polynesian vigor. As a result, the city pride itself on the diverse choice of national cuisines, variety of entertainment and authentic architecture. Sydney has something for everyone: yuppy areas of Darling Harbour and the Rocks, iconic shows at the Opera House, or the lavish ways of the Bondi Beach. Sydney combines the best qualities of all worlds, British-sarcasm, European fashion, and local down-to-earth relaxed attitude and tropical vibe.
Business & Economy
Sydney pride itself to be the world’s most, global, green and connected cities. This the major Australian powerhouse and the gateway to Asia for Western businesses. Sydney is the prime destination for regional leaders, international corporations, tourists and international students. Sydney accommodates headquarters of nearly 40% of the leading Australian corporations. Financial, educational, digital and creative businesses are all flourishing in Sydney - due to the stable political system, investment climate, and comprehensive urban development program. The local business community is young, innovative and future-focused. The Sydney also strives for sustainable and green energy, those goals are outlined in the City of Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 program. The city also capitalizes on its heritage and cultural diversity, with plenty of festivals, concerts and one of the largest celebrations of Chinese New Year in the world.
Culture
The city government invests $36.5 million in cultural initiatives each year. This involves sponsoring influential festivals like the Biennale of Sydney and Sydney Festival, an organization of massive free public events like Art & About Sydney and New Year's Eve celebration, as well as funding new public artworks and creative communities.The Sydney Council subsidize theater and performance tickets for teenagers, through Playwave and Shopfront Arts Co-op. In such a way young people have access to affordable tickets to live performances and engaging in the cultural life of the city. Another unprecedented initiative of Sydney authorities is the creative hoarding program. Developers must cover their constructions by the art of living Australian artists, or historical images appropriate to the area. Developers can choose their own artist, or they can utilise artworks commissioned by the City of Sydney for free.
Outdoors
Locals boast more than 400 parks and public spaces. Sydney's parks comprise an area of more than 1.8 square kilometers. This includes a wide range of different green spaces from the iconic and rigorously planned central parks to cozy neighborhoods parks. Hyde Park and Paddingtoin Reservoir Gardens are the mixture of old and new with award-winning modern designs and old-fashioned British landscaping. Numerous locals parks around Sydney provide a great opportunity to breath fresh air or hide from the summer hemixturesat in the tree shadows. There are also off-leash parks for the residents and their furry friends.
Transportation
The rapid increase of low-density housing in the peripheral suburbs has made car ownership mandatory for thousands of households. There can be up to 350,000 vehicles utilizing the city's roads simultaneously during the rush hour, causing significant traffic congestion. Car dependency is soaring in Sydney– among commuters, 58 % use a car to get to work, around 9% catch a train, 5% take a bus and only 4% walk. There is an ongoing urban planning crisis in terms of parking and accommodating these many cars. In recent decades, the city council mounted an effort to improve public transportation. Sydney's public transport system constitute a comprehensive network of city train, bus and ferry rides. In addition, there are light rail trains, airport connectors, and sightseeing buses. Sydney's intricate metropolitan train network not only connects the broader region with the inner city, but it also travels to nearby towns and attractions such the Hunter Valley and Newcastle to the north, the Blue Mountains to the west and Wollongong to the south. Trains operate from 4 am to around midnight on most train lines. Buses move through the city almost 24 hours a day. There is also an ongoing construction of Sydney metro.
Housing Trends
Average rent in Sydney: $2,377
Rent Price
Studio rentals
$749
-30.3%
1 bed rentals
$1,940
-1.3%
2 bed rentals
$2,127
-4.6%
3 bed rentals
$2,492
-3.5%
Rent Type Price
Apartment rentals
$2,286
-2%
House rentals
$2,474
-0.5%
Townhouse rentals
$2,412
+2.2%
Duplex rentals
$2,952
+3.6%
Room rentals
$1,352
-3.5%
Finding Apartments in Sydney
The rental market in Sydney is very competetive and quite expensive. Rental biding is the common thing, and you can end up doubling the initial price, just to outbid your competitors. Even quite modest one-bedroom apartment for rent in Surry Hills can cost up to $2000. Renting a flat or a house in the eastern suburbs is also a high-budget option. This area is attached to the Central Business District and frequently serve as a residence for affluent business executives. If you are looking for a cheap flat or apartment for a student you should look into Western suburbs. This area is well-connected to the city center via the City rail which provides a comfortable commute. In general, options to rent property is quite diverse. Short term apartment rentals can be quite costly, since the boom of the holiday rentals. Nevertheless, you still can find affordable long-term rentals, for instance, granny flat for rent in the suburbs.
The Sydney CBD is the main commercial and financial center of Australia. It is the major economic hub for the Asia-Pacific region. Sydney CBD employs around 13% of the Sydney workforce. This relatively compact neighborhood generated approximately $118 billion worth of Australian GDP. It is a district of skyscrapers, high-rise condos, and luxury commercial venues. Culturally, the city center is a heart of nightlife and entertainment. It is also home to the city's most beautiful landmarks and sights.
Surry Hills used to be a tough working-class area for the majority of its history until gentrification completely altered its look in the 1980s. It introduced industrial styles of cafés, spacious lofts, and contemporary Asian restaurants. Signs of Surry Hills’ working-class origins can be found in the long list of great pubs in the neighborhood — places like the Dove, Olive, Forresters, and Beresford are among Sydney’s signature dive-bars. The abundance of Indian, Vietnamese and Lebanese eateries on Cleveland Street, together with award-winning cafés like Single O, Reuben Hills and Paramount Coffee Project makes Surry Hills Sydney’s dining capital.
Words cannot capture the essence of this unique neighborhood. It is both bohemian and shabby, unconventional and trendy, hipster and eclectic. To understand the appeal of this area you need to take a stroll past small bars of King Street and its independent boutiques. The Newton streets are bustling with students, artists freaks and geeks. Additionally, Newton is a great weekend getaway, where you can enjoy the diverse dining scene featuring everything from the excellent burgers at Mary’s to French bistros. Newton is the standard barrier of the Harbour City’s blooming craft beer culture, due to the raft of microbreweries in the Marrickville area. The Enmore Theatre, one of Sydney’s leading live music venues, is also in Newton.
Bondi is one of the coolest and most emblematic nooks of Sydney. The one-kilometer strip of golden sand speaks for itself. The variety of refined food and drink options, fitness clubs and social events all add to the exquisite lifestyle of Bondi Beach. If you want to get a sense of this unique community visit the Indigenous Cooee Art Galler or the galleries at the Bondi Pavilion or stop by the annual Sculpture by the Sea. The proximity to the city makes Bondi Beach a favorite spot of affluent young professionals.
Darlinghurst is a stronghold of LGBTQ+ community of Sydney. It is also one of the most artistic neighborhoods with galore of independent art spaces such as King Street Gallery, TAP Gallery, ARTERY Aboriginal Art, and Stanley Street Gallery. Darlinghurst pushes as far from the mainstream as possible, you won’t find mainstream shops and chain stores here. Instead, you can enjoy independent vintage stores on Oxford Street. Darlinghurst is also one of Sydney’s coolest avant-garde nightspots, with cocktail venues like Charlie Parker’s, small wine bars, of street-corner gay bars.
Similarly, to most inner city neighborhoods Balmain has a proud working-class history. It was always a bastion of unions and labor movements, no wonder that the Australian Labor Party was founded here. Nowadays, Balman is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods, due to its proximity to the waterfront and business center. This region is notorious for green public spaces, stylish housing, and cozy little coffee places on each corner. It is a great place to settle down and find a long term apartment for rent.
