Moving to Australia from Idaho

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Idaho to Australia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Idaho to Australia, you would find that Australia is 13.5% more expensive than Idaho. A $75,000 salary in Idaho would need to be roughly A$114,404 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Idaho and Australia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 A$114,404

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 1.9% more

Groceries

pay 1.6% more

Transportation

pay 30.2% more

Housing

pay 7.7% less

Childcare

pay 3.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 41.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Idaho to Australia.

Moved in 2023
2,863 ↓ 10% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Australia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Australia?

Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Australia compared to Idaho.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

ID
33.5%
AU
29.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Idaho across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

ID
91.3%
AU
96.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Idaho across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ID
3.5%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

ID
$49,054
AU
$59,500

Idaho generally does better on employment & economy, though Australia leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

ID
78.4 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs

Australia performs significantly better than Idaho across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Boise Rain: 11.7 in/yr (298 mm)
64° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Boise Canberra
Jan–Mar 46°/29°F (8°/-2°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/57°F (30°/14°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/32°F (10°/0°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Boise Canberra
Jan 38°/25°F (3.2°/-4.1°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 45°/28°F (7.1°/-2.1°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 55°/34°F (12.6°/1.3°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 62°/39°F (16.8°/4.1°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 72°/47°F (22.0°/8.1°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 81°/54°F (27.4°/12.1°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 91°/60°F (32.9°/15.8°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 79°/51°F (26.0°/10.6°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 65°/41°F (18.2°/4.9°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 48°/32°F (9.0°/-0.1°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 38°/24°F (3.1°/-4.4°C) 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Australia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Australia.
Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Australia passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Australia than Idaho?

On average Australia is around 7% pricier than Idaho, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Budget about A$28,601 for 3 months in Australia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Australia?

From major Australia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Idaho and Australia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Idaho?

Australia performs significantly better than Idaho across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Australia compared to Idaho?

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 64°F in Boise. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Boise gets 11.7 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

Both Idaho and Australia share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

AU
Population 1,567,582 26,141,369
Currency United States Dollar ($) Australian Dollar (A$)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +61
Time zones 11 8
Emergency number 911 000