More Aussies leaving east coast for Perth to escape cost-of-living pressures

An unexpected new city of choice has emerged for cash-strapped Aussies eager to escape soaring cost-of-living pressures.

Perth has emerged as the surprising new city of choice for cash-strapped Aussies eager to escape soaring cost-of-living pressures.

The east coast defection has seen the WA capital’s positive net migration percentage surge from 37 per cent in 2020 to 138 per cent in November 2022, according to data sourced by national online removalist booking platform Muval.

Meanwhile, Sydney’s sky-high price-tag has prompted a mass exodus from the city, with net migration hitting nearly minus 60 per cent in November alone.

And University of Queensland demographer Dr Elin Charles-Edwards said cost of living increases would likely prompt more Sydney departures in the coming months.

“Covid definitely played a role in people moving, but the high cost of living has been a major factor in why people are moving out of cities like Sydney and Melbourne, towards states such as Perth or other regional locations,” Dr Charles-Edwards said.

New data from Muval has shown Aussies are ditching Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland for Perth.

Melbourne is only expected to grow over the next few months, after a long stall.

“Rapid increases in house prices have also played a part, so it seems cities outside of Melbourne and Sydney are really seen as viable options now for people to move to.”

Regions like the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, which were once considered affordable, have seen a drop in interstate moves as residents look to North Queensland, where living is even cheaper.

Cairns and Townsville saw more than 50 per cent inbound growth from October to November, while Rockhampton saw a 20 per cent increase.

“We’ve seen the rental crisis hit really hard places like the Sunshine Coast which has very low vacancies and house prices have gone up dramatically during the Covid period,” Dr Charles-Edwards said.

“That’s why we have seen growth in places like Townsville and Rockhampton, which are usually driven by employment and sort of job opportunities.

“It will be interesting to monitor this next decade and whether this regional renaissance that we did see during Covid is going to continue and whether that will lead to a more balanced settlement system within Australia.”

Mat Robertson (right) and his partner made the move from Brisbane to Perth this year.

University of Queensland demographer Dr Elin Charles-Edwards. Picture: Supplied

Mat Robertson, 38, left Brisbane to work as a FIFO in Perth for three months, but has since moved permanently to the west.

“My partner and I fell in love with the weather and the laid back lifestyle, so that three-month contract was extended to a six-month contract, before deciding we wanted to make the move permanently,” he said.

“The main difference we noticed was the lack of the humidity and mosquitoes, which we struggled with in Brisbane. It’s great to live in a city with seasonal differences without sacrificing comfort.

“The leading factors we found as to why people are moving included work opportunities and the (cheaper) housing market.”