Can I afford to relocate to Sydney?!

[Sleetingnow]

Hello, after some advice!
We have a dream to relocate to Sydney for 1-2 years before moving back to the UK.

My DH has been offered a teaching job in a Sydney with a salary of $140k. We have two primary-aged children.
He has citizenship (by descent). By my estimation I would need to also work, as I don't think we could afford to live on that salary alone in Sydney?
In order to work I would need a partner visa, but that's saying it could take 2 years to come through.
Unfortunately my work isn't on the approved list of roles, and my salary is unlikely to be more than $100k (third sector)

Basically, is there a route through for us? All savings would be swallowed up by relocating//visas so I would really need to work as soon as possible

Are we crazy? Is this even possible to live on this salary?

Need a reality check I think!

Sydney is an expensive place to live - I would advise looking at housing costs before you decide!

$140k would be tight for a family in Sydney. You would have working rights on a bridging visa while you are waiting for your partner visa but the government are now restricting the tourist > partner visa option so you may not be able to do that. Would suggest heading to Ausvisa on Reddit and having a read through.

Where in Sydney is the job? I agree that it would be tight costwise if your housing costs are high. It can take some time to settle in which might make starting a job straight away difficult with kids. If you are keen on Oz, I'd be tempted to look at some other places like Sydeny outskirts or Newcastle where housing is cheaper.

Whereabouts in Sydney? I’d have a look at rent costs and whether it’s doable on a sole income before making any decisions. Cost of living is high but it’s the housing costs that hurt the most.

Just for a couple of years? Why not? experience the Australian way of life and consider it a long holiday. Do the kids have citizenship? Kids on a temporary visa have to pay public schools fees.
Sydney is huge. There is a big difference between Blacktown and Manly. Living near the beaches for a couple of years would be quite nice. Claymore, not so much.
It all comes down to the suburb. Rent anywhere nice would be min $1000 a week. Then, groceries, internet/phone (so expensive, triple what you pay in UK), at least a car and the registration+third party+ comprehensive, anything eaten out is very expensive, also private health is compulsory if you come on a visa, then there is the living and enjoying life expenses. Why come if you only can afford to stay home and watch ABC.
Do your maths properly.

As has already been said housing is the real killer here. The median rental price for a three bedroom house in my suburb is just under $1,400 a week. We are in a nice, but no means the fanciest, suburb. Your experience of Sydney is going to be very different depending on where you live and you may not want to live in an area you can afford. The location of your husband’s job is probably going to dictate where you need to live to avoid a long commute. Life will be much easier if you can live close to work (if you give us an idea of location we can probably come up with some suburb options for you).

The cost of living crisis is also very real here, we spent the last few months overseas and I couldn’t believe how much groceries had gone up when I got back. Petrol is eye watering here at the moment too although it is possibly the same where you are.

Don’t get me wrong, Sydney is an amazing place and a few years would be a great adventure but you need to make sure you can afford to enjoy it. I would not say the salary offered would give you a great lifestyle here. If you have savings and are willing to throw that in the pot or you can get the right to work that would be different. Good luck.