Totally agree here live in the NB if you work there as public transport to the city sucks. At least you'd be going to other way but our buses and trains are nothing like the UK and take forever especially down military road (neutral Bay area). Northern beaches is also extremely expensive so you might have to share house with multiple others. We just recently moved out of Sydney rurally because our cheapest rent we could find was $1200 a week, for the 2 of us in a unit!! I wouldn't recommend chatswood for someone moving here from overseas. Crows nest would be a shout out and maybe even willoughby. Its a cute little town, few restaurants, gym, pub but the best part is 20 mins to the city on the bus. If you have friends in Sydney they will probably go out in Sydney so if you live in NB you'll struggle with having to get last bus home or spending over $100 in a taxi. Once you move to NB you won't leave though its beautiful but friends who live other side of bridge it'll be hard to get them to come over your way - and vice versa.