Essentials
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut, and CommBank (easy online opening for new arrivals)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Realestate.com.au, Zumper, and stays at University House
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely. 'Tap and go' is the standard everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and stays via Canberra Short Term Rentals (approx. $1,200/week)
- Budget Accommodation
- Canberra City YHA ($45-60 AUD/night for dorms)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Parkes (near museums) or City/Civic
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Braddon (trendy, cafes) or NewActon (artsy, high-end apartments)
- City
- Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Population
- 467,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-250 Mbps via NBN (National Broadband Network)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 AUD ≈ 0.65 USD; Major banks include CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, and NAB
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high quality (sourced from Cotter Catchment)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type I sockets (three-flat-pin)
- SIM Card
- Telstra (best coverage), Optus, Vodafone. Prepaid 30GB plans approx. $30 AUD
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WOTSO Dickson (approx. $50/day) or Jaga Workspaces (Canberra City)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Harvest (City), Highroad (Dickson), or The Cupping Room (Civic)
- Networking Events
- Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) First Wednesday Connect
- Social Events for Expats
- Canberra Expats & International Friends Facebook group; InterNations Canberra
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, DiDi, and 13Cabs
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Beam (purple) and Neuron (orange) shared e-scooters via apps
- Best Beach Nearby
- Batemans Bay (approx. 2 hours / 150km drive East)
- Top Regional Airline
- QantasLink and Rex (Regional Express)
- Top International Airline
- Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas
- Highway Access
- Federal Highway (to Sydney) and Monaro Highway (to Snowy Mountains)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Kingston Railway Station (NSW TrainLink) and Jolimont Centre (bus terminal)
- Public Transport Passes
- MyWay Card (rechargeable card/app) for buses and Light Rail
- Regional Travel
- Murrays Coaches or Greyhound to Sydney (approx. 3.5 hours, $40 AUD)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- The Canberra Hospital (Garran) and Calvary Public Hospital (Bruce)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- GroundUP (Belconnen/City) and Yoga Centric (Kingston)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Club Lime (various locations, roughly $20/week) and Club MMM
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Shop (Braddon) or various self-service laundromats like Liquid Laundromat
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats, DoorDash, and Menulog
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sourdough from Silo Bakery or Freakshakes from Pâtissez
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sweet Bones Bakery and Cafe (Braddon), Au Lac (Dickson)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Messina Gelato (Braddon), Via Dolce (Civic)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets and Capital Region Farmers Market (Saturday)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.com.au, eBay, and Kogan
- Grocery Delivery
- Woolworths Online and Coles Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lonsdale Street (Braddon) and Garema Place (Civic/City)
- Local Brewery
- BentSpoke Brewing Co (Braddon) and Capital Brewing Co (Fyshwick)
- Wine Bars
- Bar Rochford (City) and Rizla (Braddon)
- Street Food Stalls
- The Hamlet (Braddon - rotating food trucks)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Akiba (Japanese Fusion), Blu Ginger (Indian), Akaysha (Thai)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, Questacon
- Museums & Art Venues
- National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery
- Historical Sites
- Old Parliament House (Museum of Australian Democracy), Blundells Cottage
- Religious Sites
- St Christopher's Cathedral (Manuka), Canberra Mosque (Yarralumla)
- Annual Events
- Floriade (September/October), Enlighten Festival (March)
- Cultural Districts
- NewActon (design/arts precinct)
- Theater Venues
- Canberra Theatre Centre, The Street Theatre
- Local Markets
- Old Bus Depot Markets (Sundays in Kingston)
- Music Scene
- Smith's Alternative (Civic), Transit Bar
- Street Art
- Tocumwal Lane murals and Braddon street art
- Cooking Classes
- Foodish (Belconnen Market), Pialligo Estate
- Art Galleries
- Beaver Galleries, Canberra Contemporary Art Space
- Historic Buildings
- Hotel Canberra (Hyatt), Albert Hall
- Local Heritage
- Ngunnawal and Ngambri indigenous cultural history
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Corin Forest
- National Parks Nearby
- Namadgi National Park (45 mins south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lake Burley Griffin Circuit (approx. 28km loop)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mount Ainslie Lookout and Black Mountain (Telstra Tower)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Jerrabomberra Wetlands
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Cotter Avenue (designated BBQ/fire pits only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Australia Post (LPO), DHL, Aramex
- Tech Repair Services
- iPhone Repair Canberra (Civic), Dr. Boom Communications
- Table Tennis Spots
- Canberra Table Tennis Association (Kingston)
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (French), ANU Centre for Continuing Education
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Australia, ACT Heritage Library
- Community Centers
- Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres
- Gaming Lounges
- Reload Bar & Games (Civic)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Canberra (City)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $10,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $420,000 AUD)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $8,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $328,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $588,000 AUD)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $450,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $9,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $736,000 AUD)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $7,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $560,000 AUD)
- Corporate Tax
- 30% (Standard) or 25% (Small/Medium Businesses)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 30% (Generally offset by franking credits for residents)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% for income over $190,000 (plus 2% Medicare Levy)
- VAT
- 10% GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, complex and strictly enforced by ATO
- Property Tax
- Annual General Rates based on Unimproved Land Value
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp Duty (variable based on price, approx. 3-5%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific digital nomad visa; high tax jurisdiction