How Much Does It Cost to Move Overseas?
When your move abroad is imminent, one of your first few questions will likely be: How much money do I need to move overseas? How much does it cost to move furniture overseas? How much does an international move cost?
Calculating how much you’ll spend is no simple matter as the cost of moving abroad from Australia depends on a variety of factors, such as:
- Where you are moving to
- When you plan to move (peak or off-season)
- How much of your possessions you want to move
- Whether you are moving with pets
- Whether you’ll be moving your things by sea or air
- Whether you’ll need temporary accommodation
- Whether you’ll be using temporary storage facilities in your host country
For example, the overall average international cost of moving the contents of a 3-bedroom home when moving from Australia to the United Kingdom can range between $5,000 and $8,500 (excludes goods and services tax or GST). This ballpark estimate involves moving the furnishings and belongings of a 3-bedroom dwelling valued at around $75,000* from port to port or by sea. This estimate does not include your airfare, immigration fees and the cost of related paperwork, pet boarding and relocation, labour, etc.
Also, the cost of moving abroad could also be less if you decide to sell off or give away a large portion of your possessions, whether it be certain household furnishings and appliances, clothes, hobby items, etc.
Our reason for using a 3-bedroom as a basis is because according to the latest data published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the average number of people per household in the country is 2.6.
Of course, you may be living alone or have more family members moving with you. Whichever scenario applies to you; you’ll need to get reliable international moving quotes. This way, you can prepare financially, well ahead of your moving date.
To get your personalised international move quote, just click on the button below.
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Other Overseas Moving Cost Considerations
Before you finalise your international moving cost calculations, you also need to take into consideration some often unexpected fees that can add to your overseas moving expenses.

Customs Duty for Moving Furniture Overseas
Whilst relocating to any country, it is critical to have all of the necessary paperwork for entry. Keep in mind that regulations, particularly duty tax amounts and percentages, vary frequently and could change without warning. Therefore, having a current list of documents, forms, and matching customs requirements provided by the destination agency and/or the country’s customs authorities is important. A copy of your passport and visa, an inventory of the goods being delivered, and country-specific importation paperwork are all common documentation requirements.
Note that some countries have customs duties even if you’re bringing in used furniture.
In general, however, household goods must be six months to a year old to be deemed duty exempt; otherwise, they may be subject to taxation.

Visa Costs
Unlike tourist visas, getting a visa for a long-term stay can be more complicated. Depending on the visa you are applying for, you can expect to spend upwards of $5,000.
To save time and reduce stress, you could look into hiring a migration agent who’s well-versed with all the requirements. Of course, if you take this route, you should also prepare a budget for this service.
An initial consultation with a migration agent could cost you $100, whilst end-to-end assistance with sponsorship and visa application matters could set you back by about $2,500 or more per person.
Travelling Cost When Moving Overseas (One-Way Flight Tickets)
Travelling costs are not always the first thing you would consider in your overall calculation when moving overseas, however, it can definitely add quite a bit to your overall expenses.
In general, the earlier you book your flights, the cheaper it will be.
Travel Cost (Economy)
Perth – London, UK
Adult Ticket Cost: ~$595 to 1,484
1 Adult + Child (Up to 11 Years Old) Ticket Cost Per Passenger: ~$1,159 to 2,212
*Note: Flight costs change all the time, please do your own research online for accurate flight ticket prices. The ticket prices quoted also do not include visa-related and customs fees.
Travel Cost (Economy)
Perth – Auckland, New Zealand
Adult Ticket Cost: ~$479
1 Adult + Child (Up to 11 Years Old) Ticket Cost Per Passenger: ~$479
*Note: Flight costs change all the time, please do your own research online for accurate flight ticket prices. The ticket prices quoted also do not include visa-related and customs fees.
Costs of Optional International Removal Services
The below list gives you an indication of costs for optional overseas moving services.

Storage Costs
Storage can be very useful if you are moving overseas for a set period of time and you don't want to bring all your belongings with you.
It helps to get your head around storage prices before you ask for quotes. There are several storage options available, for example container storage or self storage units. For 12 month container storage in Australia, you could be looking at around $70 per month. Self storage units could cost you anywhere between $70-$400 per month, depending on the space required and length of storage services.
If you don’t want to have all of your goods delivered to your new house at the new destination right away, you’ll have to find a storage facility in the country you are moving to for this particular need. You can also ask us to help you find a suitable storage provider and we might even have local contacts. Don’t forget to get insurance for your peace of mind, too.
➜ Learn more about our Removals and Storage Solutions

International Moving Transit Insurance Costs
The cost of insuring your goods would depend on how much is being transported or the volume of the items, the shipping mode, route and distance.
Overseas moving transit insurance costs start from around $120.
➜ Learn more about Moving Transit Insurance

International Money Transfer Fees
When making international money transfers, you will find the fees vary significantly as well as the exchange rates. Whilst using your local bank may be convenient, it could also be more expensive compared to other Money Transfer options. At Relocations WA, we have partnered with a reliable and cost effective international money transfer platform.
To ensure you don’t lose money, it’s best to do your research to ensure you’re not saving on fees at the expense of the exchange rate and vice versa.
➜ Learn more about International Money Transfer Costs

Packing Services Cost
Relocations WA offer packing (and unpacking) services to their customers. The cost factors usually involve how much needs to be packed and how soon. You’ll also need to factor in any fragile, high-value or big-ticket items that require specialised packing materials.
To give you an idea of how much a box costs, a standard carton is priced at $22, a book carton at $6.50, and a porta robe at $24.00 per carton.
➜ Learn more about Moving Overseas Packing Costs

Vacate Cleaning Prices
Cleaning costs vary depending on which services you want from your removalist. Normally you'll be provided with a cleaning checklist or an itemised list with options like vacuuming, mopping floors, sanitizing toilets and sinks, and organizing bedrooms.
On average, vacate cleaning costs can be between $200 - $1,000 (depending on the size of your dwelling).
➜ More info on Vacate Cleaning

International Pet Transport Cost
If you have fur babies, you’ll want to take your pets with you – not unless you’re planning to get them rehomed or adopted. But if you’re taking them to your new place, you’ll need to arrange for their safe transportation to your new residence, either personally or through a removalist. You can of course ask us to provide pet transportation as part of your overseas relocation. In any case, pet shipping costs vary significantly depending on the services you need, like blood tests, collection from your Australia residence, microchipping, veterinary checks, flight bookings, import permits, government health certificates and approvals, etc. To answer the question ‘how much does it cost to ship a pet overseas’, you need to identify the services you need.
To give you an idea, a cat might cost you anywhere from $700 to $2,000 to transport overseas, while shipping a dog abroad can set you back by around $2,000 to $7,000.
The final cost would also depend on which country you’re taking your pet and might also include pet boarding should you need this additional service.
Why Opt for Relocations WA for Your International Move?
When you want a stress-free move with a reliable, friendly and professional local, interstate and international removalist, then Relocations WA is a natural choice.
With us, you are assured of cheerful and top-notch services without any unpleasant surprises and hidden fees that could ruin your budget because we’re upfront with all our fees and dealings.
At Relocations WA, we’ve seen it all with our nearly six decades of service.
We encourage you to find out the quality of our services by checking out our many Google reviews from satisfied clients.
Take advantage of our personalised, tailored full relocation services.