In recent years, more Sydneysiders have been moving out of the city in search of a better quality of life. While Sydney’s harbour and beaches remain iconic, many residents are opting to leave due to rising living costs, long commutes, and limited work-life balance. The shift to remote work has shown that careers can thrive without the need for a daily commute, strengthening the trend towards regional living. With fewer reasons to stay tethered to the city, a growing number of Sydneysiders are embracing a lifestyle that’s more affordable, flexible, and family-friendly.
Housing close to Sydney’s centre has become prohibitively expensive for many families, and the high cost of living often makes it challenging to get ahead financially. In this article, we explore whether moving out of Sydney could be the right choice for you, speaking with a few people who’ve made the move and examining the opportunities, risks, and considerations involved.
Cheaper housing
Unless you’re willing to have a million-dollar plus mortgage, the Sydney property market might be out of reach. Rents are also high and many families feel they are priced out of the market.
Concurrently, the first generation to take advantage of the flexibility of working from home are Millenials — the same generation that’s been effectively locked out of the housing market. Now of an age where they’re having children, they’re looking for more bedrooms. They can either buy in the suburbs, or pay less and take advantage of working from home by moving out of the city.
Many of the people we interviewed who had left chose areas close to Sydney such as Newcastle and love it. Sheree Myers said:
“My family and I moved from Sydney (Lane Cove) in February this year. We now live in Warners Bay in Newcastle and we’re in the best financial position we’ve ever been in. We left for lifestyle. To live close to both a business hub and the beach, in an area where we could afford to buy property.”
Or if the French countryside is more your style, take Renae Smith’s example. Successfully running a Sydney-based PR firm while living in France, Renae said:
“I left Sydney a year ago and moved to the French Countryside. We were paying $7,000 a month rent for a three-bedroom house in Newtown. Add on the cost of living and we were struggling. An opportunity came up for us to move to France for a year and it has been amazing! We’ve saved thousands of dollars on rent and food as we shop at the local markets. We’ve experienced the world more, and flights from Lyon are sometimes just 20 Euros! So far we’ve been to Spain, Greece, The Netherlands, Switzerland, England and Morocco! We’re amazed at how cheap life is when you’re not spending your entire wage on rent. I still own and run a PR agency in Sydney. Even with flying back every three months, it’s still cheaper than paying rent in Sydney!”
Shorter commute
Sydneysiders spend over 90 minutes a day commuting. This equates to over two weeks a year spent getting to and from work! It’s the longest commute in the country and not only wastes time but is bad for your health.
The people that we spoke to who have left Sydney all commented on the commute, or lack thereof, in the places they moved to. Katerina Phillips said:
“We left Sydney and ended up moving to Byabarra on 75 acres west of Wauchope. It was amazing from a lifestyle perspective, but difficult for my husband to find a good job. After eight years we upped stakes and moved to Newcastle – best thing we ever did. Great move both financially and emotionally. We live in the city centre which is a complete change to country living, but I do love the convenience of having everything nearby. Plus it’s nowhere near as expensive as Sydney!
Work life balance
Work life balance is often thought of as a myth by those of us living in cities such as Sydney. Those who we interviewed about leaving Sydney highlighted the flexibility their new locations offered. By having shorter commutes, very small or no mortgages, similar wages and lower expenses, they have more of what they want in life. Spending time with family, enjoying hobbies, doing more exercise and having an overall healthier lifestyle were all benefits for those who left.
Melissa Gole, became exhausted getting up at 6am and not getting home until after 6pm. She moved to Port Stephens for a change in lifestyle and greater life balance. Melissa said:
“Instead of commuting to and from work, I now start my day with a morning swim and unwind with a beach walk with my kids. But the thing I appreciate the most is being able to enjoy breakfast and dinner together as a family. The benefits to my health and family have been enormous and we’re in a much better position financially too.”
Increased wealth
When you reduce your expenses while maintaining your income, you gain more capacity to invest, which can significantly boost your wealth. Imagine cutting your expenses by 10%, 25%, or even 50% – how much more could you set aside to achieve the lifestyle you’re working towards?
Leaving Sydney doesn’t have to mean leaving behind a Sydney-level salary. Renae, for instance, continues to operate her business remotely from overseas, earning a Sydney income. Katerina found comparable wages in Newcastle. With remote work now commonplace, it’s easier than ever to hold onto your job while enjoying a more affordable lifestyle outside the city.
However, this isn’t always the case. Sheree and her husband, for example, had to factor in a reduction in his income, but the significantly lower cost of living still made the move worthwhile.
Relocating is a big decision with plenty to consider. Look into the cost of living, local job opportunities, housing prices, and proximity to schools and amenities in the areas you’re interested in. Weigh up the pros and cons, talk to others who have made the move, and speak with a financial adviser to understand the financial impact of leaving Sydney versus staying.
Consistently ranked one of Sydney’s top financial planners (Adviser Ratings), Brenton helps his clients life a great life by making the most of their money. Read his full bio here.
