Moving to Australia from Minnesota

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Minnesota to Australia, you would find that Australia is 6.7% more expensive than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly A$114,000 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Sydney averages 72°F vs 55°F in Minneapolis, making it significantly warmer.

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

Is Australia cheaper than Minnesota?

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.0% less

Groceries

pay 2.9% less

Transportation

pay 10.2% more

Housing

pay 5.3% more

Childcare

pay 21.2% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 13.9% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 1.42 AUD (November 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$114,000

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%).

Minnesota

Mankato 62%
Rochester 60%
Duluth 50%

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?

What the data shows about people moving from Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

MN
33.9%
AU
30.6%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

MN
91.0%
AU
96.1%

Australia performs significantly better than Minnesota across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

MN
4.3%
AU
4.1%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MN
$68,478
AU
$65,130

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MN
79.1 yrs
AU
83.0 yrs

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

Weather in Australia vs Minnesota

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Minneapolis Rain: 30.6 in/yr (778 mm)
55° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Minneapolis Sydney
Jan–Mar 31°/15°F (0°/-10°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 69°/48°F (20°/9°C) 69°/54°F (21°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) 66°/50°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 42°/26°F (6°/-3°C) 75°/61°F (24°/16°C)
View all months
Month Minneapolis Sydney
Jan 24°/8°F (-4.6°/-13.6°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.6°C)
Feb 29°/13°F (-1.7°/-10.7°C) 80°/67°F (26.5°/19.7°C)
Mar 41°/24°F (5.2°/-4.3°C) 78°/65°F (25.4°/18.1°C)
Apr 58°/37°F (14.3°/2.9°C) 74°/60°F (23.3°/15.3°C)
May 69°/49°F (20.8°/9.4°C) 69°/54°F (20.6°/12.5°C)
Jun 79°/59°F (26.0°/14.9°C) 64°/49°F (18.0°/9.7°C)
Jul 83°/64°F (28.6°/17.8°C) 63°/48°F (17.4°/8.7°C)
Aug 80°/62°F (26.9°/16.6°C) 66°/49°F (18.9°/9.7°C)
Sep 72°/52°F (22.1°/11.3°C) 70°/54°F (21.2°/12.0°C)
Oct 58°/40°F (14.4°/4.3°C) 73°/58°F (22.8°/14.4°C)
Nov 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) 75°/61°F (23.8°/16.3°C)
Dec 27°/12°F (-2.7°/-10.9°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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota?

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

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Budget about A$28,500 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 Minnesota and Australia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Minnesota?

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

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

The average high temperature in Sydney is 72°F, compared to 55°F in Minneapolis. Sydney receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while Minneapolis gets 30.6 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

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

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At a Glance

AU
Population 5,830,405 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