The 10 best cities to migrate in Australia 2022
Home to almost 26 million people, Australia is one of the world’s most sought after immigration spots, famed for its culture, people and weather. Consistently ranking as one of the best countries in the world to live, it is no wonder over 200,000 people relocate here every year. In addition to this, over 9 million people visit Australia yearly, cementing it as a key destination when it comes to tourism and migration.
If you’re thinking of migrating to Australia, this is the perfect guide to relocation for you!
10 Cities to Migrate in Australia
Choosing the best places in Australia to live can be hard given the sheer size of the country so this breakdown of 10 of the most popular cities may help you in making your decision to move.
1. Sydney, NSW
The capital city of New South Wales, Sydney is Australia’s most populated city with a population of over 5 million people. Sydney ranked as the 10th most liveable city in the world and is seen as the best place to live in Australia for migrating populations with more than 42% of the city’s population being born overseas.
2. Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne serves as the capital city of Victoria and is home to around 5 million people. Melbourne has consistently ranked one of the best cities to live in Australia and one most liveable cities in the world, ranking 1st for 7 years in a row between 2011 and 2017. The city is often referred to as ‘Australia’s Culture Capital’ and is seen as a pillar in Australia’s dance, music, film and food scenes.
3. Brisbane, QLD
The capital city of Queensland and the third most populated city in Australia, Brisbane is Australia’s sporting capital. With a strong outdoor culture, Brisbane has played host to a number of sporting events and will host the 2032 Summer Olympics. Brisbane is known for the open hospitality of its people and its strong sense of community.
4. Perth, WA
Perth is Australia’s western most city and is commonly referred to as one of the most isolated capital cities in the world! Perth’s relative isolation from the rest of Australia means it is a highly self-sufficient city with strong resources based economy and a booming technology sector.
5. Adelaide, SA
Capital of South Australia, Adelaide is home to 1.3 million people and is seen as one of Australia’s most progressive and urban cities. Consistently ranked as one of the worlds most liveable cities, Adelaide is seen to be a fast growing hub of Australian manufacturing and technology. Home of the Australian Space Agency and a key player in Australia’s defence manufacturing, Adelaide is seen as a bustling hub for job opportunities for incoming residents.
6. Hobart, TAS
Hobart is the capital of the island state of Tasmania and is home to 230,000 people, nearly half the states population. Hobart is Australia’s southern-most city and is a hub for both domestic and overseas tourism due to its mostly undisturbed natural landscapes and historic cultural background. The natural serenity of Hobart, famed for its markets, museums and calm make it a key location for visitors and immigrants in search for a more laidback lifestyle.
7. Canberra, ACT
Canberra, located in the Australia Capital Territory is the capital city of Australia and is home to around 400,000 people. Unlike other capital cities around Australia, Canberra was entirely planned to serve as the seat of government for the nation. Canberra houses the majority of the Commonwealth Government’s institutions including Parliament House, the National Gallery and the Australian Defence Force.
8. Darwin, NT
Australia’s most northern city, Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory and is home to a majority of the state’s residents. Darwin’s northern location means it serves as a bridge to Australia’s south-east Asian neighbours such as Indonesia and other tourists and immigrants stemming from Asia.
9. Gold Coast, QLD
The Gold Coast is Australia’s largest non-capital city and serves as one of Australia’s most popular tourism hubs. The Gold Coast contains some of Australia’s busiest coastlines including the famed Surfers Paradise Beach and sees more than 10 million tourists visit per year.
10. Newcastle, NSW
Newcastle is New South Wales’s second largest city, home to over 300,000 people is one of Australia’s largest trade and industry hubs. The largest exporting harbour in the world, Newcastle is a key player in Australia’s natural resource industry and is a regional hub due to its role in the Asian export market.
Australian Cuisine: Food & Drink
Australia has much of its cuisine rooted in its English colonial history but due to large scale immigration from across the world, Australian cuisine has shifted to include a range of foods from a variety of cultures.
When it comes to produce, Australian produce is some of the best in the world. Australian beef and seafood is readily available and forms part of the Australian cuisine.
Australia is world renowned for its seafood ranging from affordable fish and chips to world class lobster and Moreton Bay Bugs.
Australia is also well known for the quality of its fresh fruit and vegetables, exporting produce around the world.
Notable Mentions: Small Towns and Rural Escapes
If living in a major city is not for you, Australia offers many small towns and rural centres to move to or visit. For some the best parts of Australia are those away from the city Hussle and bustle and shouldn’t be excluded when looking for a place to move to. Some notable rural and small Australian towns include:
1. Orange, NSW2. Flinders Island, TAS3. Esperance, WA4. Byron Bay, NSW5. Broome, WA6. Alice Springs, NT
Family Life in Australia
Australia is a family-orientated culture. In recent years it has become more common for women to have their first child in their early thirties (33%), followed by late twenties (31%) than any other age. Since 1996, it is most common for Australian families to have 2 children (39%).
Education
Australia’s education institutions are so well renowned around the world, making Australian the third largest provider of education to international students from around the world, with more than 800,000 international studies enrolled in Australian education courses. As of 2018, the Education Index, published by the United Nations place Australia’s education development as 0.929, the second highest in the world.
Australian tertiary institutions also consistently rank among the best in the world with 36 Australian tertiary institutions being listed in the World University Rankings for 2021.
Cost of Living
The cost of living differs greatly across Australia depending on the utility in question as well as geographic location. In General, the average monthly cost of living for an Australian is set at $4,843.42 with Darwin been assessed as being the most expensive city in Australia.
Of the major cities, Hobart is seen as being the cheapest place to live in Australia with consumer prices being 14.17% lower on average Hobart than Darwin.
Property Affordability
When it comes to housing, Australian cities are often seen as some of the most expensive cities on Earth with a median house price of over $1 million. Depending on where you migrate to that number may increase or decrease drastically with the median property price in Sydney swelling over $1.5 million in 2021. In Perth, this figure is less than half of Sydney’s cost at around $612,000.
Climate & Weather
Australia is famed around the world for its hot weather and humid conditions but this is not the case year round. Despite having recorded a record high temperature of over 50C, the Australian climate is relatively stable due to its oceanic surrounding. Around the coast, where over 85% of Australians live, even on scorching 40C days, a cool ocean breeze can always be expected in the afternoon. The same can’t be said for inland locations in Australia such as Alice Springs, NT which records average highs of up to 36C during the summer months.
During winter, Australia’s climate remains relatively mild with a less dramatic shift between summer and winter compared to other countries. With temperatures rarely falling into the negatives, Australia is the perfect place for those looking to get away from cold and snowy winters!
Job Opportunities
Job opportunities in Australia are vast and bountiful with the nation recording its lowest unemployment rate since the start of the Global Financial Crisis in January 2022. Depending on where you are from, working in Australia as a foreigner will most likely require you to have the correct visa and rights to work.
In addition to Australia’s low unemployment rate, Australia has a strong history of protecting workers against abuse by employers and legislating for fair and reasonable wage and working conditions with a minimum wage of $20.33 per hour or $772.60 per week (As of 1 July 2021).
Our Recommendation
The material included in this article is designed and intended to provide general information in summary on Australian Cities, which is current at the time of publication, for general information purposes only. The material may not be applicable in all jurisdictions. This article does not constitute legal advice. This article is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice you obtain from a lawyer. You should not rely upon this article as legal advice or as a substitute for legal advice. Moving to a new country can be a difficult and stressful time for many and choosing where to live when migrating to Australia can be complicated due to the nations strict border and immigration rules. If you’re thinking of moving or immigrating to Australia, contacting an accredited Migration Specialist such as Alan Rigas Solicitors help provide you will the assistance and guidance you need to make a simple and streamlined migration. Contact our office to speak with one of our experienced migration lawyers who can help guide you through all the steps to moving to Australia and assist you to with all your migration needs.