The cost of moving to Australia from Singapore starts from SGD 1,345 door to door for 1 m³, about 8 boxes. A 10 m³ shipment of around 80 boxes starts from SGD 4,700, and a sole-use 20ft container from SGD 11,300. These indicative “from” prices cover packing, sea freight, customs clearance, Australian quarantine inspection fees, destination port charges, delivery and unpacking. Your exact price always needs a survey and a dedicated quote.
Below you will find our current price guide, what it covers, what can add to it, and how to keep your budget under control. Last updated: October 2026.
How much does it cost to move to Australia from Singapore in 2026?
For a door-to-door move, the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore starts from SGD 1,345 for 1 m³ and from SGD 4,700 for 10 m³. The more you ship, the less you pay per cubic metre: around SGD 1,345 per m³ for the smallest shipment, falling to about SGD 470 per m³ at 10 m³.
| Shipment | Volume | From price (door to door) | Approx. per m³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 boxes | 1 m³ | SGD 1,345 | ~SGD 1,345 |
| 16 boxes | 2 m³ | SGD 1,585 | ~SGD 793 |
| 24 boxes | 3 m³ | SGD 1,950 | ~SGD 650 |
| 48 boxes | 6 m³ | SGD 3,060 | ~SGD 510 |
| 80 boxes | 10 m³ | SGD 4,700 | ~SGD 470 |
These are indicative starting prices for the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore, not a quote. Your final price depends on your inventory, where in Australia you are moving to, access at both homes and the date you move, so we confirm it after a survey with a dedicated quote.
Not sure how much you have? Our guide to estimating your shipping volume is a good place to start.
How much does a container to Australia cost?
For a full home, the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore by sole-use 20ft container starts from SGD 11,300, and a 40ft container from SGD 17,800. A container suits furniture and full households, because the whole container is yours and is sealed at your home. Your surveyor confirms which size fits your belongings before you book.
| Container | Best for | From price |
|---|---|---|
| 20ft sole-use container | Apartments and smaller homes with furniture | SGD 11,300 |
| 40ft sole-use container | Larger family homes | SGD 17,800 |
As with the box prices, these are indicative starting prices. The final quote depends on your volume, access and moving date.
What is included in CM Relocation’s moving prices?
Our “from” prices for the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore cover the full door-to-door service. We pack your belongings in Singapore, ship them by sea, clear them through customs, pay the standard Australian quarantine inspection fee and destination port charges, then deliver and unpack at your new home. Optional extras, special handling and difficult access are quoted separately.
Included in the from price:
- Packing in Singapore
- Sea freight to Australia
- Customs clearance
- Australian quarantine (biosecurity) inspection fees
- Destination port charges
- Delivery to your new home
- Unpacking
Not included, quoted separately if you need them:
- Transit insurance (optional, but strongly recommended)
- Special handling and crating, for example pianos, safes or fragile artwork
- Access charges, such as stair carries when there is no lift or an item does not fit in it
- Storage at either end
- Treatment or disposal of any item the inspection officers say needs it (see below)
How does the Australian quarantine inspection work?
Every shipment of household goods entering Australia goes through a biosecurity check by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The standard inspection fee is included in our prices. If officers order treatment for an item, such as fumigation, our Australian agent charges for it directly in Australian dollars, usually with two options: treat the item or dispose of it.
DAFF reviews your B534 form and packing list first, then decides how much of the shipment to inspect. Any item that came from an animal or a plant attracts attention, as does anything that has touched soil, food or water. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s guidance on moving to Australia explains what to clean and what not to pack.
A clean, well-labelled shipment moves through inspection faster and is less likely to need treatment, which keeps the overall cost of moving to Australia from Singapore down. During our survey we point out items that may cause problems so you can clean them or leave them behind before packing day.
Our guide to customs clearance and quarantine rules for moving from Singapore to Australia covers this in more detail.
Which shipping method suits your move to Australia?
After volume, the shipping method has the biggest effect on the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore, and the best method depends on how much you are shipping. For a few boxes, a shared (groupage) shipment keeps the total price low because you only pay for the space you use. If you are moving furniture or a whole household, a sole-use container is usually better value per cubic metre and arrives sooner.
With a small shipment, the total price matters most. With a large one, look at the price per cubic metre. Our guide to groupage, LCL and FCL shipping compares the options side by side.
What else can add to the cost of moving to Australia?
Beyond volume, the main extras that add to the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore are special handling, difficult access, your delivery address, insurance and storage. Pianos, safes and high-value items need extra labour, equipment or a custom crate. Stair carries add manpower. Insurance is priced on the value you declare. Telling us about all of these at the survey stage avoids surprises later.
- Special items. Pianos, safes, artwork and antiques often need crating and an extra crew. See how we handle special and high-value items going to Australia.
- Access. No lift, a lift that is too small, or long walks from the truck to your door all mean more manpower at one or both ends.
- Your delivery address. Where your new home is in Australia affects the price, so we confirm delivery in your dedicated quote after the survey.
- Insurance. Optional, but we recommend it for every international move. Read more about moving insurance.
- Storage. Useful if your Australian home is not ready when your goods arrive.
Will you pay duty or GST on your household goods?
Used personal effects you have owned and used for 12 months or more generally come into Australia free of duty and GST. The Australian Border Force says unaccompanied goods may be subject to duty or tax unless you have both owned and used them for at least 12 months, so newer items could attract charges.
You declare your goods on the Unaccompanied Personal Effects statement (form B534), and DAFF also uses this form for its biosecurity assessment. Giving false or misleading information on it carries penalties, so take care when you fill it in. The Australian Border Force’s duty-free guidance sets out the 12-month rule.
If your goods meet the 12-month rule, duty and GST add nothing to the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore. We help you prepare the paperwork well before your shipment sails.
How long does shipping from Singapore to Australia take?
Door-to-door timings depend on the method. As a guide, a sole-use container (FCL) or LCL shipment takes about 5 to 7 weeks and a shared groupage shipment about 10 to 14 weeks, plus 1 to 4 weeks for quarantine clearance after arrival. Air freight takes about 1 to 2 weeks, including quarantine clearance.
| Method | Typical door-to-door time | Quarantine clearance |
|---|---|---|
| Sole-use container (FCL) or LCL | About 5 to 7 weeks | Add 1 to 4 weeks |
| Shared groupage | About 10 to 14 weeks | Add 1 to 4 weeks |
| Air freight | About 1 to 2 weeks | Included in the 1 to 2 weeks |
Groupage takes longer because the container only sails once it is full enough. Quarantine waits tend to be longest during the Australian summer, when more shipments arrive. If you have a fixed start date, tell us early so we can suggest the right method. Our page on how long it takes to ship to Australia goes into more detail.
Should you ship everything or start fresh in Australia?
Ship what is valuable to you and leave what is cheap to replace. Good-quality furniture, sentimental items and anything hard to buy in Australia are usually worth the space. Low-value flat-pack furniture often costs more to ship than to replace, and every item you leave behind lowers your volume.
Deciding what to leave is the easiest way to lower the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore, and the survey is a good moment to make these calls. We can tell you roughly how much volume each large item adds, which makes the decision easier.
How can you reduce the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore?
The biggest saving comes from shipping less. After that, choose the right method for your volume, book early, avoid peak periods and pack in a way that keeps the quarantine inspection straightforward. None of these mean cutting corners on how your belongings are handled.
- Declutter first. Sell, donate or store what you do not need before the survey.
- Match the method to your volume. Groupage for a few boxes, a container for a full home.
- Book 6 to 12 weeks ahead. You get more choice of dates and sailings.
- Avoid peak times. Holiday periods and year-end tend to be busier.
- Clean outdoor items. Bikes, camping gear and garden furniture should be spotless and dry, to avoid treatment charges.
- Compare like with like. When comparing quotes, check whether quarantine fees, port charges, unpacking, insurance and access charges are included.
Our budgeting tips for international relocation go further on planning your overall relocation budget.
How do you get an accurate quote for your move?
Book a survey. One of our surveyors looks at your belongings, checks access and building rules, and notes any items of quarantine concern or that need special handling. Our pricing team then prepares a written quote with a clear breakdown, so you know exactly what is and is not included.
Your quote shows the full cost of moving to Australia from Singapore for your shipment. Once you accept it, our operations team confirms your packing dates, books the freight and asks for your documents well ahead of time.
Get a quote for your move to Australia
CM Relocation is a FIDI Affiliate, accredited to FIDI’s FAIM quality standard, and a member of the International Association of Movers (IAM). We have helped many families move from Singapore to Australia.
If you want a clear answer on the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore for your own home, a survey is the quickest way to get one. We may not always be the cheapest quote, but we aim to give the best value, with clear pricing and careful handling from your door in Singapore to your new home in Australia.
Request your free moving quote or visit our moving to Australia page to see how we handle the whole move.
Frequently asked questions
Are Australian quarantine fees included in the price?
Yes. Our “from” prices include the standard Australian biosecurity (quarantine) inspection fee, along with packing, sea freight, customs clearance, destination port charges, delivery and unpacking. If officers order treatment for an item, such as fumigation, our Australian agent charges for it directly in Australian dollars, usually with a choice to treat or dispose of it.
Does the cost of moving to Australia from Singapore depend on the city?
It can. Our “from” prices are a general guide for Australia, not a price for any particular city. Your delivery address, inventory, access at both homes and timing all affect the final figure, so every move gets a survey and a dedicated quote. Tell us your new address early so we can price delivery properly.
What is the cheapest way to ship boxes from Singapore to Australia?
For a few boxes, a shared groupage shipment is usually the cheapest option, because you only pay for the space you use. Our door-to-door prices start from SGD 1,345 for 8 boxes (1 m³) and SGD 1,585 for 16 boxes (2 m³). Groupage takes longer, so allow about 10 to 14 weeks plus quarantine clearance.
How many boxes fit in 1 cubic metre?
As a rough guide, 1 m³ holds about 8 standard moving boxes, so 10 m³ is around 80 boxes. Furniture changes the picture quickly: a sofa or a wardrobe can take up a cubic metre or more by itself. A survey gives the most reliable volume, and it is what we base your final price on.
Do I need to pay GST on used household goods?
Usually not, if you have owned and used the goods for 12 months or more. The Australian Border Force says unaccompanied goods may be subject to duty or tax unless both conditions are met. Newer items may attract charges, so declare them correctly on your B534 form. We help you prepare this paperwork before your shipment leaves.
Is insurance included in the moving price?
No. Transit insurance is optional and quoted separately, based on the value you declare for your belongings. We recommend it for every move to Australia, because your goods travel by sea and pass through several handling points, including the quarantine inspection. Ask us for an insurance quote alongside your moving quote so you can compare costs in one place.
Why do I need a survey before I get a final price?
Our tables show starting prices, but every home is different. A survey lets us measure your real volume, check lift and parking access, spot items needing special handling, and flag anything of quarantine concern. That means the quote you receive reflects your move, with fewer surprises once your goods are on their way to Australia.
How far ahead should I book my move to Australia?
Aim to book 6 to 12 weeks before you want your goods packed. That gives you a better choice of packing dates and sailings, plus time to sort paperwork and decide what to ship. If you are moving during a busy period such as the year-end holidays, book as early as you can.
Ready to plan your move? Get a free quote from CM Relocation.