What's it like to live in Australia?

The pros of living in Australia

Lifestyle is the big draw: warm weather for much of the year, beaches and national parks within reach of every capital, and a culture that values weekends outdoors, sport and good food.

Wages are high by world standards, there is a legal national minimum wage reviewed every year, and workers get compulsory superannuation (retirement savings) paid on top of their salary.

Medicare gives citizens and permanent residents free or subsidised public hospital care and doctor visits, and the cities are multicultural: nearly a third of people living in Australia were born overseas.^[1][2][3]

The cons of living in Australia

Housing is the main downside. House prices and rents have risen faster than wages for years, especially in Sydney, and many people commute long distances to afford a home.

Australia is big and far from everywhere. Flights to Europe or the Americas are long and expensive, and travelling between capitals usually means flying.

Everyday costs (groceries, insurance, eating out) are high, the sun is harsh, and parts of the country face bushfire, flood and cyclone seasons.^[4]

Cost of living and housing

Rent is usually the biggest cost. House prices vary widely across Australia, but published figures differ by geography, date and methodology. The city table below links each figure to its exact article and states what it measures.

Interest rates are set by the Reserve Bank and have a big effect on mortgage repayments. See our cost of living guide for a city-by-city table.^[5]

Jobs, wages and visas

Health care, education, construction and professional services are the biggest employers, with mining important in Western Australia and Queensland. Skilled workers in shortage occupations have the clearest visa pathways.

Anyone who is not a citizen needs a visa to live or work in Australia. The official visa finder on the Home Affairs website is the only reliable place to check which visa fits your situation; rules change often.^[6][7][8]

Weather and climate

Australia has several climates. The north (Darwin, Cairns) is tropical with a wet and a dry season; Brisbane and the Gold Coast are subtropical; Sydney, Perth and Adelaide are mild to hot; Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart have cooler, changeable weather and proper winters.

Seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere: summer runs December to February and winter June to August.^[9]

Healthcare, schools and safety

Medicare covers citizens and permanent residents; visitors and most temporary visa holders need private health insurance, unless their country has a reciprocal agreement with Australia.

Public schooling is free for citizens and permanent residents, and you can compare individual schools on My School. Australia is generally considered a safe country, with low rates of violent crime by world standards.^[2][10][11]

Lifestyle and culture

Life tends to be casual and outdoors: weekend sport, barbecues, beaches and bushwalks. Each city has its own personality, from Melbourne's cafes and AFL obsession to Brisbane's river life and Perth's long beaches.

Most Australians live in a handful of coastal cities, so most new arrivals start in a capital before trying regional life.^[12][13]

References

1. Fair Work Ombudsman, minimum wages
2. Services Australia, Medicare
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics
4. Bureau of Meteorology, climate of Australia
5. Reserve Bank of Australia, cash rate
6. Department of Home Affairs, visa finder
7. Home Affairs, skilled occupation list
8. Australian Taxation Office, tax rates
9. Bureau of Meteorology, climate averages
10. Services Australia, reciprocal health care agreements
11. My School (ACARA)
12. Tourism Australia
13. ABS, National, state and territory population

Frequently asked questions