Peace, nature, museums, low levels of pollution, varied climate, and great job opportunities… Discover what it’s like to live in one of the cities with the best quality of life in the world. Welcome to the capital of Australia!
Many wonder whether Melbourne or Sydney should be the capital of the land of the dingoos, but the truth is that Canberra is the true capital of Australia, and it was created to be so.
In 1901, in what until then was the capital, Melbourne, the Commonwealth of Nations Parliament, of which Australia is a member, was held. And that’s where the conflict arose. The then capital and its main competitor to be so, Sydney, were too close to the coast and therefore sensitive to possible attacks. This did not convince the members of the Commonwealth, so they decided that the capital would be Canberra.
A city built to be capital and prepared to host the capital of the Australian State, the seat of the Australian Parliament, the High Court of Australia, and numerous ministries.
Fill out the form and a Dingoos Guide will contact you within the next 24/48h.
Canberra holds the title of being one of the cities with the best quality of life in the world, so we wouldn’t be surprised if you decided to move there for a while. And living in the capital of Australia has many advantages such as…
But it also has some drawbacks such as:
One of the disadvantages of living in Canberra is the cost of housing. Renting a room in Canberra may not be cheap, but the good thing is that rent is paid weekly, every two weeks, or every four weeks, which makes it easier to organize your savings for the rest of the month.
But not everything is negative regarding accommodation in Canberra: one of its advantages is that, being a new city, almost all neighborhoods are at the same distance from the center, but not all are priced like in the center.
That’s why, if you go to the outskirts, you will find more affordable rooms in neighborhoods close and well connected to the center.
Do you want to know which neighborhoods make up Canberra? Follow us! Let’s take a walk through some of them…
The city’s nerve and leisure center. If you take a walk around there you will find everything: shops, restaurants, and even a clueless tourist. There are some options to rent your home there, but prepare your wallet, because the truth is that it’s the most expensive area in the city. That said… you’ll never get bored!
Bohemian and stylish, that’s what this neighborhood is like, located just 15 minutes on foot from the center. Living in Braddon means living surrounded by cafés, artisanal bakeries, and modern restaurants located in old industrial buildings. Social life in Braddon takes place among microbreweries, cocktail bars, or cool places like The Hamlet, a space with food trucks and live music that you and your friends will fall in love with.
Without a doubt, this would be Ross Geller’s favorite neighborhood. Located north of the center, this residential neighborhood is perfect for museum lovers and, more specifically, dinosaur lovers. A quiet neighborhood where you can enjoy long walks and one of the most important museums in the entire country, the National Dinosaur Museum.
But if instead of Ross you are more like Rachel Green, Kingston in Canberra is your home. It is very close to Lake Burley Griffin and is a neighborhood surrounded by nature. Kingston is a stylish neighborhood thanks to the modern architecture that fills its streets. There, you can stroll through its numerous markets where you’ll find crafts, jewelry, and clothing.
Nature and luxury boutiques go hand in hand in this Canberra neighborhood. If you like international cuisine, you will love Manuka because while discovering its designer stores, you can try food from anywhere in the world.
As we told you, the climate in Canberra is varied: you can find mild temperatures, extreme ones, sun, and clouds. That said, you’ll see little to no rain because the Australian capital is quite dry.
Autumn temperatures are mild and pleasant, ranging between 26º and 14º. The trees turn brown and create landscapes worthy of a postcard.
If you’re not someone who tolerates the cold well, maybe you’re more suited to other Australian cities like Gold Coast or Brisbane. And it’s because winter in Canberra is quite cold, with many frosts and minimum temperatures around 0º and maximums of 13º.
Spring in Canberra is quite similar to autumn in terms of temperatures. The rainiest month in Australia is November, which is at the end of spring. We remind you that spring in the Southern Hemisphere runs from September to November.
The Australian capital has a fairly warm summer climate, reaching maximum temperatures of 30º and minimums of 12º. Being a dry climate, you’ll feel the heat but not as much as in a humid climate. In summer, you’ll have perfect days to enjoy outdoor plans like having a picnic at Lake Burley Griffin or enjoying yourself like a kid at the city’s water park.
The price of rent and lifestyle in Canberra is slightly cheaper than in other cities in the country like Sydney or Melbourne, but still, it’s a capital, so life is not entirely cheap.
Prices in the Aussie capital are slightly more expensive than at a Spanish supermarket, around 10% more. For example, in Canberra a liter of cow’s milk may cost you $1.80 AUD while in Spain €0.99 or €1.10. A dozen eggs in the Australian capital is around $5 AUD and a kilo of oranges $3.90 AUD.
If you prefer dining out, a McDonald’s menu, for example, will cost you $12.90 AUD, while something more elegant like a dinner in a restaurant for 2 people will cost around $99.00 AUD.
As we told you, in Canberra almost everything is quite well connected or close to the center. Still, if you need to travel and move from one place to another, your expenses will be as follows:
Being the capital, the cost of accommodation is quite high: a room in a 3-bedroom apartment in the center of Canberra can cost you up to $1000 AUD per month. But you can reduce costs by sharing an apartment or looking for something more on the outskirts, where you can share and find rooms for $700 AUD per month.
In addition to housing costs, you may have to pay for electricity, gas, and internet. In an 85 m² apartment, these usually amount to around $199 AUD per month.
Nowadays we cannot and don’t know how to live without a mobile phone, whether it’s for GPS, social networks, or of course to make calls. If you move to live in the antipodes, one of the first things you’ll want to do is have your own phone line, to talk to your boss, apply for a visa, or for whatever is necessary. We’ll help you get one, but you should know that the approximate cost will be $70 AUD.
Leisure and free time activities in Canberra aren’t cheap either, but their prices are within normal considering it’s a world capital.
Having a beer will cost you between $8 AUD and $9 AUD, while a cinema ticket will cost you about $19 AUD.
And if you want to play sports, renting a tennis court can cost you $20 AUD, while a monthly gym membership will cost you $68 AUD.
On the other hand, if you want to buy clothes, you can find Nike sneakers for about $140 AUD and Levi’s jeans for $100 AUD.
If you want to keep up to date with the events organized in the city, second-hand items, check out the city’s Facebook groups.
It may be that when you thought about moving to study in Australia, Canberra wasn’t one of your first options, but the truth is that the Aussie capital has many advantages for those who want to learn the language and work in the country of the dingoos.
One of the advantages of studying in Canberra is that there are fewer foreign students than in other more popular cities such as Gold Coast, Sydney, Byron Bay, or Melbourne, so you’ll be able to immerse yourself less in the sea but more in the Australian language and culture to have a totally immersive experience.
But in Canberra you’ll not only be able to learn English, you’ll also be able to enroll in a VET course or the university program that interests you most. Did you know that the best university in the country is in the Aussie capital? The Australian National University also ranks 19th among the best universities in the world, so imagine including a degree from this institution on your CV.
If what you’re looking for is to work in the capital, you won’t have a problem finding a job, because Canberra has the lowest unemployment rate in the whole country. That said, you will need to have a minimum level of English and some prior work experience.
With the student visa you can work 24 hours per week while you study and 48 hours per week during vacation periods. This way, you can take an English program to improve your level of the language or enroll in a VET course while covering your stay by working part-time. Surely, that way, later on, it will be easier for you to get the job of your dreams in Australia.
Australia is a country with economic growth, and the industries most in need of staff are:
Studying in Australia isn’t the hardest thing in the world, but it’s not as easy as waking up one day on a whim and saying “today I feel like going for six months to the other side of the world, I’m going to pack my suitcase.”
Australia is a very safe country, with unstoppable economic growth for more than 25 years and with loads of opportunities and advantages for all those who want to come to grow professionally and personally.
Our goal is for everything to be crystal clear to you from the beginning, so that you know at all times what you’re going to find on the other side of the world and don’t get any surprises. Ready?
At Dingoos we are experts in Australia and we will accompany you every step of the way to help you decide which visa suits you best. And once you have it clear, we will help you with all the procedures so that getting it is so easy you won’t even notice.
Canberra doesn’t have a beach, but it does have many interesting places to visit that you’ll love to discover once you live there.
It’s the aquatic protagonist of the capital; this large lake located in the center of Canberra is the perfect spot for thousands of activities such as rowing, fishing, sailing… It has a path that runs around its entire shore, and on it you can appreciate the different government buildings of the capital. It was built in 1963 and owes its name to the architect who created it.
A large part of this country’s history is gathered in this place. A must for all those who visit Canberra’s government buildings. It was designed in the 80s and Queen Elizabeth II herself was in charge of inaugurating it.
If you go to Lake Burley Griffin you can’t miss the National Museum, where you can learn about the culture of Aussie Aboriginal peoples and discover how colonization took place.
This place is a tribute to all those who took part in the war, a must-visit point for many who travel to Canberra and a place to go if you want to understand and comprehend Aussie history.
With more than 4 and a half km, this immense garden has an endless variety of plants. If you’re passionate about nature and want to get to know Australian flora, or you simply want to get the best photo for your social networks, the Botanic Garden has to be on your tourist list.
We already warned you: Canberra is surrounded by nature, and this garden is one of the largest collections of forests in the world. With almost 100 forests, it’s a magical place where you can stroll, get lost, and connect with nature.
On the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, this park is one of the most visited areas of the city, both by tourists and by Canberrans themselves. More than 30 hectares of green areas are the ideal place to have a picnic, hold different cultural events, or ride a bicycle, so if you decide to move to Canberra, more than one get-together with friends you’ll have in this place.
From the park you can see the famous National Carillon, a large bell tower given by Queen Elizabeth II, as the highest authority of the Commonwealth, to Canberra.
If you’re a science lover, Canberra’s national science and technology center will delight you. There you can enjoy a multitude of exhibitions and attractive activities for people of all ages, where learning and fun are by no means at odds.
Living in Canberra will cost you between $520 AUD and $800 AUD per week.
One of the favorites for students due to its affordable prices and good connection with universities and the city center are: Hackett, Lyneham, or Kaleen (approx. $250 AUD per week for a shared room).
A bit farther from the center are other neighborhoods on the outskirts such as Gungahlin or Lyon (approx. $270 AUD per week for a shared room).
The best way is to do it online. The most common platforms to look for housing in Australia are Gumtree, Flatmates.com, Easyroommate, or in the Facebook group “Españoles & Latinos en Canberra.”
Yes, studying and working in Canberra is possible. If you want to know how, we’ll tell you here.
If you want to work in Australia, you can do so in both qualified and unqualified jobs. Some of the jobs with which members of the #FamiliaDingoos cover their expenses in Canberra are these.
From student visas to the Work & Holiday Visa, there are many types of visas to travel to Canberra, and you will need to choose one or another depending on the duration and reasons for your stay in the country.
Sydney is the most universal Australian city, a great metropolis that never sleeps and where you always discover something new that leaves you in love.
Melbourne is one of the cities with the highest quality of life in the world. The only bad thing about going is coming back, but you can always look for a way to stay forever.
Amazing weather all year round, kilometers of beach, and buildings so tall that it’s impossible not to be left hanging in the clouds with your mouth open. Welcome to surfers’ paradise!
A haven of peace on the shores of the Pacific, the cradle of Australian bohemia. A place that’s more than a place—it’s a way of living life.
The capital of the state of Queensland and the third-largest city in Australia with two million inhabitants. A very manageable city with good weather all year round.
The great capital of the west coast, a city that, by not being so touristy, perfectly preserves the essence of Australia. The best sunsets in the country are here.
An urban tropical paradise, surrounded by nature and with only 120,000 inhabitants, which is also close to a thousand places you can’t miss.
A subtropical paradise without big buildings or urban overcrowding, perfect for strolling while seeing koalas and surfing near dolphins.
Life at the beach, life better! Australia’s Sunshine Coast is perfect for you if you’re a calm person and can’t imagine living in a big city.
Hobart is the oldest city in Australia. A place full of life, with impressive landscapes and many corners to discover.
Darwin is the perfect place for those who want to study and work in Australia away from large crowds and with a very tropical style.
Living in Adelaide is not only living in the fifth-largest city in the country and in the capital of the state of South Australia: it’s also living in one of the most beautiful, organized, and cultural cities in the world.
Don’t miss our webinar and discover how to prepare your application: requirements, required documents, key dates, and common mistakes to avoid.
