Best Places to Live in Australia for UK Expats

Australia has long been one of the places British people move to most, and for many families the decision to go is easier than the decision about where. Sydney and Melbourne are the obvious names, but more UK movers each year choose Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide instead, for space, sunshine or a lower cost of living.

This guide compares the main cities, what each one suits, what it costs to rent there, and something most city guides leave out: how your choice of city changes the move itself.

Quick answer: Sydney suits careers in finance, tech and media and is the most expensive city to rent in. Melbourne offers culture, schools and lower rents than Sydney, with changeable weather. Brisbane and South East Queensland suit families who want warmth and outdoor life at a lower cost. Perth suits people who want beaches, space and a mining or engineering career, and are comfortable with distance. Adelaide is the most affordable of the five and the most relaxed. For your belongings, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the most straightforward; Perth and Adelaide routings vary, so ask for a city-specific timeline.

Which Australian city suits which kind of mover?

Rents move quickly in Australia. Domain reported Sydney house rents at a record A$850 a week in the June 2026 quarter, with Melbourne at A$600. Its forecasts for 2026, published in late 2025, put Brisbane at about A$690, Perth at A$731 and Adelaide at A$652. realestate.com.au put the combined-capitals median advertised rent at A$700 in September 2026. Check current listings before you budget.

Sydney: careers, harbour and the highest costs

Sydney is Australia’s largest city and its financial centre, with the widest range of jobs in finance, technology, media and professional services. Its beaches, harbour and national parks give it an outdoor life few cities match, and it has large British and international communities across the eastern and northern suburbs.

It is also the most expensive city in Australia to rent or buy in, by a clear margin. Many families trade a long commute for space, in the Hills District, the Northern Beaches or the Sutherland Shire.

For your move: Sydney is served through Port Botany, Australia’s busiest container port, which means frequent sailings and well-established customs and delivery arrangements. Inner-city apartments may need a booked lift and a loading zone, and some older terraces have narrow access. Our removals to Sydney page has more detail.

Melbourne: culture, schools and four seasons in a day

Melbourne regularly rates as one of the world’s most liveable cities, for its food, arts, sport, universities and schools. Rents are well below Sydney’s, and its suburbs offer more space for the money. The weather is the most British of the big cities: changeable, with cool, grey winters.

It suits families, professionals in education, health and the public sector, and anyone who wants city culture without Sydney prices.

For your move: Melbourne is served by the Port of Melbourne, on a similar timeline to Sydney. Delivery to the outer growth suburbs is straightforward; inner-city terraces and apartment blocks need the same access planning as Sydney.

Brisbane and South East Queensland: space and sunshine

Brisbane has changed more than any Australian city in the past decade, with a growing job market, major infrastructure investment ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games, and a subtropical climate that suits outdoor family life. Within an hour or so are the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, both popular with UK families who want beach life with good schools.

The trade-offs are summer humidity, storms, and in some areas flood risk; check flood maps before choosing a street.

For your move: Brisbane is served by the Port of Brisbane, on a similar transit time to Sydney and Melbourne. Delivery covers Greater Brisbane and South East Queensland; regional Queensland adds time. One practical point: solid wood furniture and pianos shipped from a dry British home can react to Queensland’s humidity, so let them acclimatise and keep air moving in the first weeks.

Perth: beaches, space and distance

Perth offers some of the best beaches in the world, larger homes with gardens, a sunny Mediterranean-style climate and a job market driven by mining, energy and engineering. It is also the most isolated large city on earth, around four hours’ flight from Sydney, although it is closer to the UK in flying time than the east coast.

It suits families and professionals in resources and engineering who value space and outdoor life and do not mind distance from the rest of Australia.

For your move: Perth is served through Fremantle on the west coast. Routing and consolidation schedules from the UK differ from the east-coast ports, so your move manager will give you a Perth-specific estimate rather than the general Australian range. Delivery outside the metropolitan area adds time.

Adelaide: affordability and a slower pace

Adelaide is the most affordable of the five main cities, with a compact, walkable centre, beaches within half an hour, and the Barossa and McLaren Vale wine regions on its doorstep. It has a growing defence, space and technology sector, and it suits families and retirees who want a relaxed life.

The job market is smaller than in the eastern capitals, so it suits people with a job arranged or skills in its growth sectors.

For your move: Adelaide has fewer direct sailings than the east-coast ports, and some services are routed via other ports. Ask for an Adelaide-specific timeline when you get your quote.