Moving to Australia from Louisiana

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Louisiana to Australia, you would find that Australia is 19.1% more expensive than Louisiana. A $75,000 salary in Louisiana would need to be roughly A$119,258 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Canberra averages 67°F vs 79°F in Baton Rouge, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 A$119,258

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 7.1% more

Groceries

pay 4.2% less

Transportation

pay 43.2% more

Housing

pay 6.5% less

Childcare

pay 15.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 49.8% 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.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Louisiana 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 Louisiana to Australia.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

LA
40.6%
AU
29.0%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

LA
84.9%
AU
96.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Louisiana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
3.9%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$55,662
AU
$59,500

Australia performs significantly better than Louisiana across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

LA
73.1 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs

Australia performs significantly better than Louisiana 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.

Baton Rouge Rain: 60.6 in/yr (1540 mm)
79° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baton Rouge Canberra
Jan–Mar 67°/45°F (19°/7°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/64°F (30°/18°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/72°F (33°/22°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 72°/50°F (22°/10°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Baton Rouge Canberra
Jan 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 66°/44°F (18.7°/6.9°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 73°/50°F (22.6°/10.2°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 79°/57°F (26.3°/13.8°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.4°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 91°/71°F (32.7°/21.9°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 92°/74°F (33.4°/23.2°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 92°/73°F (33.6°/23.0°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 89°/69°F (31.5°/20.3°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 81°/58°F (27.1°/14.4°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.4°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 64°/43°F (17.8°/5.9°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 Louisiana?

No — Australia is on average about 11% more expensive than Louisiana. 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$29,814 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 Louisiana?

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

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

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 79°F in Baton Rouge. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Baton Rouge gets 60.6 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

Share this

At a Glance

AU
Population 4,533,372 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