Moving to Oregon from Australia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Australia to Oregon? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Australia to Oregon, you would find that Oregon is 0.3% more expensive than Australia overall. A A$110,000 salary in Australia would need to be roughly $77,500 in Oregon to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Portland averages 56°F vs 72°F in Sydney, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Oregon cheaper than Australia?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 0.6% less
Groceries
pay 3.3% more
Transportation
pay 7.3% less
Housing
pay 18.0% more
Childcare
pay 28.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 15.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
What salary do you need in Oregon?
What does your salary buy?
A$110,000 → $77,500
To maintain the same standard of living in Oregon
Calculate with your salary →Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Oregon cost about 5% more than cities in Australia.
Compare cities head-to-head
Get free moving quotes to Oregon
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Australia to Oregon.
people moved from Australia to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
63.103,446
Australia
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Oregon compared to Australia.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Australia performs better than Oregon across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Australia performs better than Oregon across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Oregon leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Australia performs better than Oregon across all family life metrics.
Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), World Health Organization (2024), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), The World Factbook (2020), OECD Regional Demography (2020). How we calculate this
Weather in Oregon vs Australia
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sydney | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) | 36°/18°F (2°/-8°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 69°/54°F (21°/12°C) | 63°/44°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 66°/50°F (19°/10°C) | 76°/56°F (24°/13°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 75°/61°F (24°/16°C) | 48°/30°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sydney | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.6°C) | 31°/13°F (-0.4°/-10.3°C) |
| Feb | 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.7°C) | 35°/16°F (1.4°/-8.7°C) |
| Mar | 78°/65°F (25.4°/18.1°C) | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.9°C) |
| Apr | 74°/60°F (23.3°/15.3°C) | 53°/35°F (11.8°/1.5°C) |
| May | 69°/54°F (20.6°/12.5°C) | 64°/44°F (17.5°/6.8°C) |
| Jun | 64°/49°F (18.0°/9.7°C) | 73°/54°F (22.9°/12.0°C) |
| Jul | 63°/48°F (17.4°/8.7°C) | 79°/59°F (26.0°/15.2°C) |
| Aug | 66°/49°F (18.9°/9.7°C) | 78°/58°F (25.4°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.0°C) | 70°/50°F (21.1°/10.2°C) |
| Oct | 73°/58°F (22.8°/14.4°C) | 59°/39°F (14.8°/3.8°C) |
| Nov | 75°/61°F (23.8°/16.3°C) | 48°/31°F (8.9°/-0.6°C) |
| Dec | 78°/65°F (25.5°/18.3°C) | 37°/20°F (2.9°/-6.4°C) |
Bureau of Meteorology
National Weather ServiceCan you move from Australia to Oregon?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Australia and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Australia passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting Australia
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Oregon than Australia?
Oregon and Australia are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to Oregon?
Budget about $19,375 for 3 months in Oregon (based on a A$110,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Oregon?
From major Oregon cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Australia and Oregon are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Oregon compared to Australia?
Australia performs better than Oregon across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Oregon compared to Australia?
The average high temperature in Portland is 56°F, compared to 72°F in Sydney. Portland receives around 47.2 in of rainfall per year, while Sydney gets 48.1 in.
What language do they speak in Oregon?
Both Australia and Oregon share the same official language: English.
