Moving to Australia from Maine

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Maine to Australia, you would find that Australia is 0.5% cheaper than Maine. A $75,000 salary in Maine would need to be roughly A$106,156 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 77°F in Augusta, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 A$106,156

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

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

Restaurants

pay 10.9% less

Groceries

pay 7.2% less

Transportation

pay 26.2% more

Housing

pay 19.9% less

Childcare

pay 38.2% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 35.4% 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?

How many people actually move from Maine 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 Maine to Australia.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

ME
33.2%
AU
29.0%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

ME
89.2%
AU
96.0%

Australia performs significantly better than Maine across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ME
3.2%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

ME
$54,958
AU
$59,500

Maine 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

ME
77.8 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs

Australia performs significantly better than Maine 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.

Augusta Rain: 43.6 in/yr (1107 mm)
77° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Augusta Canberra
Jan–Mar 63°/37°F (17°/3°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/57°F (29°/14°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/67°F (33°/20°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 69°/42°F (21°/6°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Augusta Canberra
Jan 58°/33°F (14.4°/0.4°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 62°/36°F (16.8°/2.2°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 70°/42°F (21.1°/5.6°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 77°/48°F (25.2°/8.9°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 85°/57°F (29.4°/14.1°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 91°/66°F (32.8°/19.0°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 93°/70°F (34.1°/21.0°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 92°/69°F (33.2°/20.7°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 87°/63°F (30.4°/17.0°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.6°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 69°/41°F (20.6°/5.2°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 60°/35°F (15.6°/1.4°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 Maine?

Costs in Australia and Maine are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly A$26,539 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 Maine?

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

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

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 77°F in Augusta. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Augusta gets 43.6 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

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At a Glance

AU
Population 1,328,361 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