By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia
07:31 12 May 2023, updated 08:56 12 May 2023
- One in five city dwellers want to move, study finds
- Residents seek space, affordability and improved well-being
One in five Australians living in capital cities are now considering an escape to the regions for a better quality of life, a new report has found.
A new report, from the Regional Australia Institute, has found the Covid-era trend of workers leaving cities such as Sydney and Melbourne for the bush and the beach is continuing in 2023.
About 70,000 Australians moved from the city to the country in 2020-21. And while the flow has slowed, regional migrations is up 16 per cent on pre-pandemic levels – despite a small uptick in regional residents going the other way.
The authors of the report, who surveyed more than 1,000 residents in major capital cities, found 73 per cent agreed the ability to work remotely had fuelled their aspirations of escaping the city.
And 35 per cent of those survey said they didn’t believe their salaries would suffer if they moved out from the city.
Under-30s are the most optimistic about regional job prospects, the survey found.
Cost of living, traffic and stress were cited as the main reasons for moving, along with a desire for more space, affordable house, and improved well-being.
Healthcare and being separated from family and friends were the biggest concerns preventing city dwellers from making the move, while 55 per cent want to remain within a two-hour drive of their city home.
About 56 per cent would consider the sea change to a large coastal area while only a third would look to move inland.
Regional centres are ready to welcome the influx of newcomers with open arms.
‘During the pandemic we saw thousands of Australians make the ‘move to more’, trading the hustle and bustle of the city for a life in the regions,’ Regional Australia Institute chief executive Liz Ritche said.
‘People are realising a move to regional Australia doesn’t mean compromising your career, income or lifestyle. There are well-paying, professional, skilled and entry-level jobs waiting to be filled in country areas.
‘From Toowoomba to Tamworth, Wollongong to Warrnambool, there are dozens of dynamic regional centres ready to welcome city folk with open arms. There’s never been a better time to move to more.’
NSW Legal Aid practice Manager Steven Wright hasn’t looked back since making the 1,150km move from Sydney to outback Broken Hill in far-west NSW.
‘The career progression has been incredible,’ he said.
‘The shared experience of living in a remote town connects people in a way that’s incredibly special. I wouldn’t change it for the world.’
The report’s findings come as the 2023-24 Budget revealed Sydneysiders were fleeing in droves.
Treasury figures say more than 124,000 residents will leave Sydney for other states in the next five years, with Queensland being the preferred destination.
Victoria is expected to lose around 2,000 residents to other states this financial year. On the other hand, Western Australia is expected to gain more domestic residents,