Moving to Australia from Maryland

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Maryland to Australia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Maryland to Australia, you would find that Australia is 9.9% cheaper than Maryland. A $75,000 salary in Maryland would need to be roughly A$96,200 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Australia cheaper than Maryland?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 1.2% less

Groceries

pay 9.6% less

Transportation

pay 7.1% more

Housing

pay 24.2% less

Childcare

pay 24.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 10.6% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (October 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.

What salary do you need in Australia?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → A$96,200

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

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 Australia cost about 10% less than cities in Maryland.

Australia

Sydney 69%
Perth 64%
Melbourne 62%
Adelaide 60%

Compare cities head-to-head

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?

Real numbers on people moving from Maryland to Australia, and how the trend has changed.

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

How Maryland and Australia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

MD
33.4%
AU
30.6%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

MD
91.6%
AU
96.1%

Australia performs significantly better than Maryland across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MD
3.7%
AU
4.1%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$69,127
AU
$65,130

Maryland performs better than Australia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MD
76.8 yrs
AU
83.0 yrs

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

Weather in Australia vs Maryland

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baltimore Rain: 42.4 in/yr (1078 mm)
70° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Sydney Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1223 mm)
72° / 58°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baltimore Sydney
Jan–Mar 51°/35°F (11°/2°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 69°/54°F (21°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/71°F (31°/22°C) 66°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 60°/44°F (16°/7°C) 75°/61°F (24°/16°C)
View all months
Month Baltimore Sydney
Jan 46°/32°F (8.0°/-0.1°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.6°C)
Feb 49°/34°F (9.5°/1.2°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.7°C)
Mar 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.5°C) 78°/65°F (25.4°/18.1°C)
Apr 69°/51°F (20.8°/10.4°C) 74°/60°F (23.3°/15.3°C)
May 79°/61°F (26.3°/16.1°C) 69°/54°F (20.6°/12.5°C)
Jun 89°/71°F (31.6°/21.5°C) 64°/49°F (18.0°/9.7°C)
Jul 92°/75°F (33.4°/23.9°C) 63°/48°F (17.4°/8.7°C)
Aug 90°/73°F (32.2°/22.8°C) 66°/49°F (18.9°/9.7°C)
Sep 83°/65°F (28.1°/18.5°C) 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.0°C)
Oct 71°/54°F (21.9°/12.3°C) 73°/58°F (22.8°/14.4°C)
Nov 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.4°C) 75°/61°F (23.8°/16.3°C)
Dec 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.6°C) 78°/65°F (25.5°/18.3°C)

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

Can you move from Maryland to Australia?

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 Maryland?

Generally yes: Australia runs about 10% cheaper than Maryland on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around A$24,050 in Australia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Australia?

Working remotely from Australia's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Maryland and Australia.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Maryland?

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

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

The average high temperature in Sydney is 72°F, compared to 70°F in Baltimore. Sydney receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while Baltimore gets 42.4 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

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At a Glance

AU
Population 6,265,347 27,614,411
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