What applies where you live

Ambulance

Not free. You get a bill.

An emergency callout commonly runs around $1,000–$1,700.

Getting around

MyWay+

MyWay+ supports contactless bank cards and phone wallets as well as the MyWay+ card.

Renting

ACT Government — Renting

Tenancy law and bond lodgement

Licences & rego

Access Canberra

Licences, registration, overseas conversion

Unsafe work

WorkSafe ACT

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

ACT Parks and Conservation

Parks, walks and camping

Things to do

VisitCanberra

High incomes and high rents, but the highest concentration of stable, well-paid work in the country.

Ambulance

Not free. You get a bill.

Roughly a $500 call-out fee plus a per-kilometre charge, commonly landing between $500 and $1,500.

Getting around

Opal card

Yes — tap on and off with a contactless Visa/Mastercard/Amex or a phone wallet. Same fares and same daily and weekly caps as Opal.

Renting

NSW Fair Trading — Renting

Tenancy law, and where your bond is lodged

Licences & rego

Service NSW — driving & transport

Licences, vehicle registration, digital licence

Unsafe work

SafeWork NSW

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

NSW National Parks

Parks, walks, camping and fees

Things to do

Destination NSW

The most expensive state for rent. Sydney share rooms commonly run $300–$450 a week; regional NSW is dramatically cheaper.

Ambulance

Not free. You get a bill.

An emergency callout commonly runs around $900–$1,200, and remote retrieval costs far more.

Getting around

Tap and Ride

Darwin buses use the Tap and Ride card. Coverage is limited compared with the capitals.

Renting

NT Consumer Affairs — Renting

Tenancy law and bond rules

Licences & rego

NT Government — driving

Licences, registration, overseas conversion

Unsafe work

NT WorkSafe

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

NT Parks and Reserves

Parks, camping and permits

Things to do

Tourism NT

Groceries and fuel cost more because everything is trucked in. Wages in hospitality and mining are correspondingly higher.

Ambulance

Free for Queensland residents, anywhere in Australia.

Interstate visitors and overseas travellers are billed, commonly several hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Getting around

go card

Yes — contactless bank cards and phone wallets are accepted across most of the South East Queensland network.

Renting

Residential Tenancies Authority

Tenancy law and bond lodgement

Licences & rego

Queensland Transport & Motoring

Licences, registration, overseas conversion

Unsafe work

WorkSafe Queensland

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

Queensland National Parks

Parks, camping permits and fees

Things to do

Tourism and Events Queensland

Brisbane is cheaper than Sydney and Melbourne but rising fast. Regional Queensland is where budgets stretch furthest.

Ambulance

Not free. You get a bill unless you have cover.

An emergency callout commonly runs around $1,000 plus a per-kilometre charge.

Getting around

metroCARD

Adelaide Metro accepts contactless bank cards and phone wallets alongside metroCARD on most services.

Renting

Consumer and Business Services SA

Tenancy law and bond lodgement

Licences & rego

SA.GOV.AU — driving & transport

Licences, registration, overseas conversion

Unsafe work

SafeWork SA

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

National Parks SA

Parks, camping and passes

Things to do

South Australia

One of the most affordable mainland capitals. Adelaide share rooms commonly $180–$280 a week.

Ambulance

Free for Tasmanian residents, within Tasmania.

Interstate and overseas visitors are billed — commonly around $1,000 or more.

Getting around

Greencard

Metro Tasmania has been modernising ticketing — check the Metro site for the current contactless position before you travel.

Renting

Consumer Affairs Tasmania — Renting

Tenancy law and the Rental Deposit Authority (MyBond)

Licences & rego

Transport Tasmania

Licences, registration, overseas conversion

Unsafe work

WorkSafe Tasmania

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife

Parks, walks, camping and passes

Things to do

Discover Tasmania

Housing is tight because supply is small, but day-to-day costs are moderate and wages in seasonal work are solid.

Ambulance

Not free — but membership is cheap and covers you Australia-wide.

An emergency road ambulance is commonly $1,300–$1,800 without cover.

Getting around

myki

Mobile myki works on Android phones and watches. Victoria has been rolling out contactless bank-card payment — check the PTV site for where it is live before relying on it.

Renting

Consumer Affairs Victoria — Renting

Tenancy law and the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority

Licences & rego

VicRoads

Licences, registration, overseas licence conversion

Unsafe work

WorkSafe Victoria

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

Parks Victoria

Parks, walks, camping and fees

Things to do

Visit Victoria

Cheaper than Sydney, expensive by world standards. Melbourne share rooms commonly $230–$380 a week.

Ambulance

Not free for most people. You get a bill.

An emergency callout in the metro area commonly runs around $1,000–$1,300, and country callouts cost more.

Getting around

SmartRider

Transperth accepts contactless bank cards and phone wallets on most services alongside SmartRider.

Renting

Consumer Protection WA — Renting

Tenancy law and the Bond Administrator

Licences & rego

WA Department of Transport

Licences, registration, overseas conversion

Unsafe work

WorkSafe WA

The state regulator for workplace health and safety.

Parks & getting outdoors

Explore Parks WA

Parks, camping and passes

Things to do

Tourism Western Australia

Wages run high because of mining. Perth rent has climbed steeply; regional mining towns are expensive but pay accordingly.