Anyone who’s lived in one place long enough has probably felt ‘the itch’ – that restless urge to leave the familiar behind in search of a fresh start. If you’re ready to scratch that itch, new data reveals exactly where Aussies are relocating to, plus the regions where the itch is spreading like a disease.
The removalist experts at Muval recently dropped their annual migration trends index, combining data from 400,000 moving enquiries with a nationwide survey of 2,000 Aussies. While demand for home removalists has dipped 22 per cent over the past five years, one trend remains rock solid: more Australians are swapping the city hustle for the slower pace of regional life.
Rising living costs and sky-high housing prices are undoubtedly the main drivers behind Australia’s current internal migration trends, with more Aussies chasing space, affordability, and a more relaxed way of life that most regional areas provide. So, where’s everyone moving? South Australia’s South East – also known as the Limestone Coast, including Mount Gambier, Robe and Coonawarra – leads with the highest inbound-to-outbound ratio of 1.59. In other words, for every 100 people leaving, almost 160 are moving in.
Bunbury in Western Australia follows with a ratio of 1.55, while NSW’s Mid North Coast comes in third at 1.44. Both regions are blessed with natural beauty, easy access to uncrowded coastlines and convenient links to the city – perfect for families seeking a lifestyle upgrade without sacrificing connection. Greater Melbourne was the only capital city to crack the top ten for the highest net migration, proving once again that regional reigns supreme.
On the flip side, Darwin is the number one region Aussies are leaving, with an inbound-to-outbound ratio of 0.72. Whether it’s the humidity, limited infrastructure or weaker job market, many locals are packing up and heading elsewhere. Exorbitant living costs and dense urban living are also driving Aussies from inner-city suburbs in Brisbane (0.74) and Sydney (0.76) to more affordable outer suburbs and regional areas. And with these trends showing no sign of slowing, there’s no better time than now to scratch that relocation itch.
The top 10 regions Aussies are moving to
- South Australia – South East, SA
- Bunbury, WA
- Mid North Coast, NSW
- Wheat Belt, WA
- Latrobe – Gippsland, VIC
- New England and North West, NSW
- Melbourne – Outer East, VIC
- Central Coast, NSW
- Wide Bay, QLD
- Sunshine Coast, QLD
The top 10 regions Aussies are moving from
- Darwin, NT
- Brisbane – Inner City, QLD
- Sydney – City and Inner South, NSW
- Cairns, QLD
- South Australia Outback, SA
- Brisbane – West, QLD
- Sydney – Eastern Suburbs, NSW
- Townsville, QLD
- Brisbane – North, QLD
- Perth – Inner, WA