There are over 1.2 million British expats living in Australia in 2024. With its better climate, more relaxed way of life and diverse culture, we’re not surprised it’s a popular destination.
Moving to Australia from UK destinations is on the rise, and it’s one of our most in-demand locations for movers! Read on to find everything you need to know about your removals to Australia, including visas, schools and salaries.
Table of Contents
Can I Just Move to Australia From the UK?
Yes, but you must apply for the correct visa and meet the requirements.
Australia is relatively strict with migration, operating a complex system. It will still allow a large number of immigrants to enter the country, to help fill gaps in employment for skilled workers and help the economy.
Some Visa options can take up to 6-8 months of preparation before the application can be lodged. Others have 12 months expiry, so beginning the process now could be beneficial.
Types of Australian Visas
The following visas are available if you are visiting Australia for a short time:
- Work and Holiday
- Transit Visitor
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
- Student
- Training
You’re going to need one of the following visas if you’re moving to Australia from the UK.
Australian Family and Partner Visas
If you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or visa holder moving to Australia, you can apply for your partner or family to join you.
For visa holders, you will need to check the details of the visa and whether it allows subsequent entrants and whether you have previously declared the members of your family. If you are returning to Australia with children born overseas, you will need to apply for an Australian passport for them. The application would be for Australian citizenship by descent.
Australian Working and Skilled Visas
Australia offers Visas to certain skilled workers to help with specific employment sectors. The Australian Skilled Occupation List shows all eligible skilled occupations that are eligible to apply for a Visa.
There are numerous “subclasses” of Visa that you will need to trawl through as well to match your circumstance and skill level, with some temporary or requiring sponsorship from an employer.
Occupations on the list are also broken down into further classifications, based on whether they are on the “Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)”, the “Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), the “Regional Occupation List (ROL)” or the “Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) List”.
For further information, the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs have a list of the visa options available as well as a Visa Finder that will help you explore your options.
Work and Salaries in Australia
In 2024, the average monthly salary after tax in Australia is $5,613.73 (£2,906.65), which is almost 20% higher than in the UK.
We’ve listed some popular jobs from the top sectors in Australia to compare salaries with the UK.
| Job | Australia Salary | UK Salary |
| Registered Nurse | $82,805 (£43,886.65) | £37,976 |
| Secondary School Teacher | $84,590 (£44,832.70) | £21,613 |
| Software Developer | $114,683 (£60,782) | £46,343 |
| Electrician | $94,247 (£49,951) | £37,581 |
| Construction Manager | $128,750 (£68,237.50) | £56,950 |
| Carpenter and Joiner | $88,920 (£47,127.60) | £38,216 |
| Plumber | $83,365 (£44,985.45) | £35,196 |
| Motor Mechanic | $72,500 (£38,425) | £37,829 |
| University Lecturer | $129,488 (£68,832.64) | £34,936 |
Both tax systems operate with progressive rates of tax, as well as potential adjustments. The total tax due for both countries is almost the same, but Income Tax is generally lower in the UK, with the medical contribution taxes higher in Australia. In both Australia and The UK, there is a capital gains tax, at differing levels, but Australia does not have an inheritance tax where the UK does.
Cost of Living in Australia
In 2024, the cost of living in Australia is 9.2% higher than in the UK. Salaries are higher on average in Australia to make up for this, but the lifestyle typically outweighs this for many expats. Below we compare the cost of living with everyday items in Australia to the United Kingdom.
| Item | Australia | UK |
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $2,237.76 (£1,155.15) | £1,062.88 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $10,940.35 (£5,647.51) | £5,004.01 |
| Monthly salary after tax | $5,594.15 (£2,887.75) | £2,398.78 |
| 3 course meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant | $120 (£61.95) | £60 |
| 1 litre of milk | $2.34 (£1.21) | £1.24 |
| 1kg chicken fillets | $12.89 (£6.66) | £6.57 |
| Monthly travel pass | $168 (£86.72) | £70 |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85m2 apartment | $306 (£157.96) | £248.30 |
| Monthly gym membership | $76.18 (£39.33) | £32.66 |
| Monthly private preschool | $2,430.28 (£1,254.53) | £1,265.43 |
Property Prices in Australia
Rent prices are 5.6% higher in Australia than in the United Kingdom, averaging $2,239.53 (£1,159.58) for a city centre apartment. It’ll cost $11,009.89 (5,700.66) per square metre to buy property in Australia, which is 13.9% more expensive than the UK’s average.
| Item | Australia | UK |
| Monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in city centre | $2,237.76 (£1,155.15) | £1,062.88 |
| Monthly rent for 1-bedroom apartment outside of centre | $1,767.61 (£912.46) | £859.29 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment in city centre | $10,940.35 (£5,647.51) | £5,004.01 |
| Price per m2 to buy apartment outside of city centre | $7,986.53 (£4,122.72) | £3,769.14 |
Where to Live in Australia
Which part of Australia is the best fit for you is subjective and based on your own needs. Below we give details of the most populated cities in Australia and what makes them attractive for British expats.
1. Sydney – New South Wales
Just over 20% of the population of Australia live in Sydney. Sydney is known for its outdoor lifestyle, with great beaches and a clean environment. Sydney is not the cheapest place in Australia to live, but the cost of living in Sydney is still less than living in London.
Being a popular area for immigration, it’s very cosmopolitan with a diverse culture and laid-back atmosphere. The weather is favourable, with the sea breeze making it a very comfortable temperature on the coasts. With job accessibility, we can see why our removals to Sydney jobs are so popular with expats.
2. Melbourne – Victoria
In the past, Melbourne has been voted the world’s most liveable city. As with Sydney, Melbourne is a cosmopolitan city and known for its nightlife and “coffee culture”. It’s Australia’s sporty city, with the Australian Football League being a big part of its culture, as well as holding the Australian Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup horse race.
The cooler weather of the winter months lasts a lot longer compared to some of the other key destinations. The city experiences heat waves and bush fires during summer months, which should be considered.
3. Brisbane – Queensland
Brisbane is the second-hottest state capital in Australia behind Darwin. It has a humid subtropical climate, which gives it short, warm winters and long, hot (although wet) summers. Queensland is known as the “Sunshine State” and for good reason.
Australia’s 3rd largest city by population is generally thought of as having a much quieter lifestyle compared to Sydney and Melbourne. Career opportunities in Brisbane are on the rise, bringing with it a much more diverse and outgoing culture, and it actively supports the Skilled Working Visa program.
Brisbane is a vibrant city with a big local music scene, with notable venues including The Zoo or The Brightside. The South Bank has museums, galleries and a performing arts centre.
4. Perth – Western Australia
The capital of Western Australia, Perth, offers a relaxed pace of life and a friendly atmosphere. Perth has the most hours of sunshine than any other Australian capital city, so it’s an ideal location if you’re looking for long, hot summer days.
Perth also has beautiful beaches to enjoy the warm weather, and being on the west coast means you get some spectacular sunsets as well. Perth is fighting with Melbourne for the title of Australia’s Coffee Capital and is thought to have the most affordable quality fresh food available compared to other state capitals.
Although some job sectors are growing, Perth does have a limited employment market compared with the East Coast capitals. There can be a sense of isolation as well, and due to the long distances to other major cities and landmarks, it can work out expensive to see the sites of Australia.
5. Adelaide – South Australia
Adelaide is one of the most affordable of the state capitals, with rent costs on average around 59% lower than Sydney in 2024.
The self-styled “20-minute city” has a small-town feel, and it is said that you could easily hit the coast or the city centre in 20 minutes from anywhere. The climate has a Mediterranean feel, although there can be some extremely hot days, especially in the summer, during Christmas.
Adelaide also has some of Australia’s best schools, universities and colleges as well as some top culinary and hospitality schools. It is also the home of a large proportion of Australia’s defence industries, and research institutes.
To find out more, read our guide on the best places to live in Australia.
Education in Australia
School education in Australia is compulsory between certain ages, depending on the state or territory. It typically ranges from 5 or 6 to 15 to 17 years old.
The schools and other education centres are very similar to UK schools in terms of average class size and university-qualified teachers. There are programs for high achievers and students who require specialist support.
The school term and holiday times are also similar to the UK. The 6-week holiday is during the UK winter, which is Summer in Australia.
Although the majority of pre-university students in Australia attend publicly funded schools, around one-third go to private schools. This is much higher than in the UK, where less than 10% of students attend fee-paying schools.
According to the Times Higher Education rankings, the University of Melbourne is the best university in Australia. It is also ranked number 33 in the top 50 overall in the world. This is followed by the Australian National University, in Canberra, and the University of Queensland in joint 54th place.
Australia has the third-highest number of international students in the world behind the UK and the US. You can apply for a Student Visa if you have enrolled in a course of study in Australia, and you may also be entitled to take family members with you.
Healthcare in Australia
In the UK, we have the publicly funded NHS to look after us. In Australia, their version of this is called Medicare. All Australian citizens and permanent residents have access to Medicare, and it is funded by the Medicare levy, which for most people is a 2% tax on their income.
Unlike the NHS, not all medical costs are covered by Medicare. For example, unless you are in Queensland or Tasmania, Medicare does not cover the cost of an ambulance to get you to hospital. It also does not cover dental care. For this reason, the majority of Australians have some form of private medical insurance in place.
The cost of private health cover in Australia varies greatly depending on the type of cover you take up, and what state you live in. If you have an appropriate level of medical cover in place, you may be able to have a tax rebate from the Australian government every year.
The Australian government has also implemented the Lifetime Health Cover to encourage Australians to take out private healthcare policies. This could mean an increase of 2% of your insurance premium every year that you do not take out private hospital cover, for all years after your 30th birthday. This is to avoid people only taking out private cover later in life.
Australian Lifestyle and Culture
The warmer climate, the beaches and the beautiful landscape encourage the laid-back, easy-going attitude Australians are known for.
Australia has a diverse culture, formed from many years of immigration. But it also has a connection with its Indigenous past, it has been inhabited for around 65,000 years and there are roughly 650,000 Indigenous people in Australia.
One thing Australians do take seriously is their sport. The Australian Football League (Australian Rules Football), the National Rugby League (NRL) and cricket are all avidly followed and well-supported.
Australian Government
The Australian government is based in the capital, Canberra and is also known as the Commonwealth government. It is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy and shares a head of state with the UK.
The head of government in Australia is the Prime Minister, who is the leader of the political party in government. The maximum term between elections is three years, although the Prime Minister can request an earlier election. Each member of the House of Representatives represents 1 of 151 electorates, which are areas of Australia all with approximately a population of 100,000 people.
One major difference in the voting process between Australia and the UK is that, in Australia, voting is mandatory. If you don’t vote in an election, you will be sent a letter asking for the reason why and potentially face a fine.
Driving in Australia
You are only able to drive in Australia with a UK licence for up to 3 months, after this, you will need to get yourself a local Australian driving licence. Depending on the state of Australia that you are driving in, you may also need to carry an International Driving Permit with you.
As with the UK, Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road. Drink-driving penalties can be harsh, and random breath testing is commonplace. The legal limit is 0.05% of blood alcohol concentration (compared to 0.08% in the UK other than Scotland, which is also 0.05%)
Speed limits are comparable to the UK, generally 30mph in urban areas but a lower speed limit around schools and other areas at certain times. It’s illegal to use a handheld mobile phone whilst driving.
There are a few differences in UK driving laws to bear in mind. For example, in New South Wales you could be fined $325 for splashing someone with mud as you drive by and, legally, you must lock your car door if you are more than 3 metres away from it or risk a fine.
Retiring in Australia
If you are planning to retire to Australia, as long as you have accumulated enough credit to qualify for a UK state pension, you can claim your pension once you have reached pensionable age. It’s also possible to transfer a private pension, with a minimum of £20,000, if you are over 55 and can find a scheme in Australia that allows it.
Australia has a non-contributory state pension that is financed by general tax revenues rather than separately in the UK. To be eligible for this you must be 66 or over (depending on when you were born) be an Australian resident who has lived in Australia for at least 10 years and meet certain income and asset tests. If your income or assets are above certain limits you may receive a lower pension amount or nothing at all.
Can I Ship My Car to Australia?
There are regulations that vehicles must comply with to import into Australia, and you will also need to apply for a Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) from the Australian Department of Infrastructure and Transport. The VIA can take 4-6 weeks to be processed and returned so please bear this in mind when organising your moving dates.
You will also have a quarantine inspection on arrival in Australia, so ensure your car is fully cleaned inside and out. Depending on the age, and other vehicle specifications, you may need to pay import duties and taxes, this can be as much as 33% of the value of the vehicle if it’s deemed applicable for Luxury Car Tax.
Our sister company Autoshippers can help with the shipping of your car. They have been exporting vehicles worldwide for over 25 years, for both private and commercial customers. To find out more, read their Australia Car Import Guide.
For a free car shipping quotation, you can visit the website or call the sales team on 0800 389 0874 / +44 117 982 8123.
Pros and Cons of Moving to Australia From the UK
Here we summarise the pros and cons of moving to Australia from the UK to help you make your decision.
Pros
- The Weather – Compared to the UK, the climate in Australia is much warmer, with long summer days that average around 29° C.
- The Beaches – With the warmer weather, there are lots of beaches to enjoy. The majority of the population live on the coast, so they are usually very accessible as well.
- Laid Back and Friendly People – The people of Australia are known to have a laid-back attitude and the diverse culture aids the friendly and accepting atmosphere.
- Top Class Education System – High standards for schooling aided by the government focus on education, and for the expat university student there are many good options for higher education. You also won’t be alone, as Australia has the third-highest number of international students in the world.
- Higher Average Wage – For some key employment sectors, you would enjoy a higher average wage, and the minimum wage rate is also higher than it is in the UK.
Cons
- Isolation – Due to the size of Australia in comparison with the population, there can be a sense of isolation as it is often difficult to visit other parts of the country.
- Internal Flights Are Expensive – If you do want to tour a little, then it is difficult to navigate by road due to the sheer distance involved. This matched with the cost of internal flights means that internal Australian tourism can be expensive.
- High Cost of Groceries – We’ve shown in this article that, despite other areas of the cost of living being lower in Australia, you would generally pay more for your groceries in comparison to the UK.
- Critters – 6 of the 10 most deadly snakes can be found in Australia, along with crocodiles, sharks, jellyfish and spiders.
Removals to Australia
To arrange your removals to Australia, get in contact with us at 1st Move International sooner rather than later. We can discuss your best options, give you pricing based on the amount of belongings that you want to take, and help you through the shipping and Customs requirements.
With our unique Shrink-Fast palletising technique, we can use commercial consolidators with regular departures, meaning that your personal effects are securely shipped from door-to-door minimising delays and damages.
Simply ask us for a free quote and get a tailored estimate for your move. Or give us a call on 0800 389 0784 / +44 117 982 8123. For more information on removals to Australia, you can visit our International Removals to Australia page.
FAQs
How hard is it to move to Australia from the UK?
Moving to Australia from the UK is a fairly lengthy and costly process. How easy it is to move will depend on whether or not you meet the visa requirements and if you pass Health and Character Checks. It’s recommended to begin the process well in advance so you can be fully prepared.
How much money do you need to move to Australia from the UK?
We’ve worked out that you’ll need between £10,000 and £20,000 to move to Australia from the UK. This includes visa fees, Skills Assessment Costs, flights and shipping to name a few. To find out more, read our guide on how much does it cost to move to Australia from the UK.
Is it worth moving from the UK to Australia?
Australia offers a more relaxed way of living compared to the UK. The better weather and beautiful scenery mean there is more of an importance on outdoor living and work-life balance.
Is it cheaper to live in Australia or UK?
The cost of living overall in higher in Australia than the UK. however, the average salary in Australia is 20% higher than the UK’s average. Combined with the better way of life, this outweighs the high cost of living for many British expats.
What is the age limit to emigrate to Australia?
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa has an age limit of 45 years old. Some business and investment visas have an age limit of 55. The partner visa and parent visa don’t have age limits. However, these are just the guidelines and each case is different, so it’s worth doing more research into your chosen visa.
Can I move my pets to Australia?
Yes, but you can only import dogs, cats, rabbits, horses and some types of birds. No insects, reptiles, or fish are allowed. You’ll need to arrange an import permit and other paperwork.
On arrival in Australia, your pet will also need to quarantine for a minimum of 10 days, costing a minimum of $2,000. They will also need to be microchipped and will undergo a Rabies test.
Something important that you need to be aware of is that your pet will only be permitted to fly directly into Melbourne, they cannot tranship internally in Australia. They will not be permitted to fly in the cabin with you either.
About 1st Move International
1st Move International are a specialist international moving and shipping company offering packing, shipping and insurance for shipping household goods and personal effects overseas. We have a global reach covering over 80 countries and 6500 worldwide destinations. You can get an international removals quote here or find more information on our international removals UK to Australia service here.
