Moving to Australia from Kentucky

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Kentucky to Australia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Kentucky to Australia, you would find that Australia is 20.2% more expensive than Kentucky. A $75,000 salary in Kentucky would need to be roughly A$122,414 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?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Kentucky to Australia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 A$122,414

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 9.8% more

Groceries

pay 5.7% more

Transportation

pay 42.8% more

Housing

pay 3.3% less

Childcare

pay 8.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 68.2% 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.

Get free moving quotes to Australia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Kentucky to Australia, based on official data.

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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Kentucky to Australia.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

KY
38.2%
AU
29.0%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

KY
87.4%
AU
96.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Kentucky across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

KY
$50,135
AU
$59,500

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Kentucky leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

KY
73.5 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs

Australia performs significantly better than Kentucky 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.

Bowling Green Rain: 49.9 in/yr (1267 mm)
69° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bowling Green Canberra
Jan–Mar 52°/31°F (11°/-1°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (25°/13°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/64°F (30°/18°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 59°/38°F (15°/3°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Bowling Green Canberra
Jan 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.1°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 50°/30°F (10.0°/-1.3°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 60°/37°F (15.4°/2.8°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 70°/46°F (20.9°/7.6°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.8°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (30.1°/17.7°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 89°/68°F (31.9°/19.9°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 89°/66°F (31.6°/18.9°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.4°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 59°/38°F (15.2°/3.1°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 48°/29°F (8.8°/-1.6°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 Kentucky?

No — Australia is on average about 14% more expensive than Kentucky. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly A$30,604 in Australia on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Australia?

Usually fine from major cities in Australia. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Kentucky?

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

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

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 69°F in Bowling Green. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bowling Green gets 49.9 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

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At a Glance

AU
Population 4,339,367 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